Design and Development of Walk-In Type Hemicylindrical Solar Tunnel Dryer for Industrial Use

Abstract

This paper deals with the critical design specifications and field performance of walk in type hemicylindrical solar tunnel dryer for drying 1500vkg industrial product (dibasic calcium phosphate) in actual use. A tunnel like framed structural covered with UV-stabilized polythene sheet walk-in type solar tunnel dryer was designed, developed, and commissioned at Udaipur (27∘ 42′  N, 75∘ 33′  E), Rajasthan, India with a solar collector area of 134.74 m2 for drying di-basic calcium phosphate, having an initial moisture content of 62.87% dry basis and to get a desired moisture content of 10.62% dry basis within two days. The performance of solar tunnel dryer for drying di-basic calcium phosphate was evaluated through no-load and full-load conditions tests in the summer and winter months. The results were shown in terms of the variation of air temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, air flow rate, moisture content, drying rate, and so forth.