Experimental analysis reveals enhanced thermal performance and collector efficiency in a solar dryer, suggesting better drying results for agricultural products.
Key Points
The fin collector with PCM achieved optimal temperatures of 60.8 °C, significantly improving drying performance.
Drying rates reached 0.89 kg/h for bananas and 0.85 kg/h for potatoes, showcasing effectiveness in moisture reduction.
Collector efficiency improved to 75.3% for bananas and 78.7% for potatoes, with marked increases compared to the conventional setup.
Three different setups were utilized, demonstrating how PCM integration enhances thermal performance in solar drying.