CFD Modelling and Simulation of an Indirect Forced Convection Solar Dryer

Abstract

Abstract Solar dryer is a conventional device used for solar drying products. There are several types of solar dryers being employed for drying fruits and vegetables. In this research, the indirect type solar dryer is studied and computational fluid dynamics is employed to simulate the process. Ansys fluent CFD software is used to simulate and obtain dynamic and thermal performance of the dryer at different operating conditions (mass flow rate). The predicted results are validated with the help of experimental results. The average velocity at the exit of the collector was 2.89 m/s for 0.0872 kg/s mass flow rate, while for a mass flow rate of 0.0447 kg/s was 1.36 m/s. The maximum temperature at the collector outlet was 44.6°C and the maximum absorber plate temperature was 69.57°C for a magnitude of 0.0872kg/s mass flow rate. The temperature profiles of the trays are also analysed and the tray closest to the collector is found to have the maximum average temperature. The results also revealed that CFD simulations are a reliable method to predict and design solar dryers.