Environmental and energetic exergetic sustainability of stevia leaf drying in a PVT indirect solar dryer with variable airflow and tray levels

Key Points

• Energy efficiency improves significantly with optimized airflow and multiple tray levels in the dryer.
• The exergy analysis indicates that this method reduces environmental impact while maintaining product quality.
• Assessment using an innovative solar dryer design allows for variable airflow and efficient heat management.
• This approach highlights the potential for renewable energy solutions in agricultural processing, promoting sustainability.