Agricultural produce upon harvesting have high moisture content which makes it unsafe for storage as the moisture in the crops attracts microorganisms which result in deterioration of the products. A solar dryer was developed, simulated and tested under the weather conditions of Zaria, Nigeria. TRANSYS 16.0 software was used to simulate the collectors’ outlet air temperature. A MATLAB code was written to compute the weight losses of yam slices present in a drying chamber. The computed Nash-Sutcliffe Coefficient of Efficiency values and its corresponding root means square errors between the modelled collector air temperature, and the experimental collector air temperatures confirm the validity of TRANSYS 16 model owing to the good quality of fit between the experimental and the simulated results. Similarly, the computed Nash-Sutcliffe Coefficient of Efficiency values and its corresponding root means square errors between the modelled weight loss of yam slices, and the observed weight loss of yam slices follows the same trend.
Abubakar S, Anafi FO, Umaru S, et al. Design and performance evaluation of a mixed-mode Solar Crop Dryer. FUOYE J Eng Technol 2018; 3(1): 22–26.
3.
AbubakarSUmaruSKaisanMU, et al.Development and performance comparison of mixed-mode solar crop dryers with and without thermal storage. Renew Energy2018; 128: 285–298.
4.
Aghbashlo M, Müller J, Mobli H, et al. Modeling and simulation of deep-bed solar greenhouse drying of chamomile flowers. Drying Technol Int J. J 2015; 33(6): 684–695. DOI: 10.1080/07373937.2014.981278.
5.
ASHRAE/ANSI Standard, the Thermal Performance of Solar Collectors, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, GA, 2003.
6.
AzaiziaZKaoliSOElkhadrouiA, et al.Investigation of anew solar greenhouse drying system for pepper. Int J Hydrogen Energy2017; 42: 8818–8826.
7.
BaniasadiERanjbarSBoostanipouO. Experimental investigation of the performance of a mixed-mode solar dryer with thermal energy storage. Renew Energy2017; 112: 143–150.
8.
Bolaji BO. Performance evaluation of a Simple Solar Dryer. In: 6th AECSET, FUT Minna, Nigeria, 2015, pp.8–13.
9.
BukolaOBAyoolaPO. Performance evaluation of a mixed-mode solar dryer. Technical Report. AU J.T.2008; 11: 225–231.
10.
DuffieJABeckmannWA. Solar drying of thermal process, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1991.
11.
PardhiCBBhagoriaJL. Development and performance evaluation of mixed-mode solar dryer with forced convection. Int J Energy Environ Eng2013; 4: 225–231.
12.
ForsonFKNazhaMAAAkuffoFO, et al.Design of mixed mode natural convection Solar Crop Dryers, application of principles and rule of thumb. Renew Energy2007; 32: 2306–2319.
13.
Fuller RJ, Lhendup TW and Lu A. Technical and financial evaluation of solar dryer in Bhutan. In: ANZSES conference, Dunedin, Australia, 2005, pp.4–6.
14.
TarigenE. Mathematical modeling and simulation of a solar agricultural dryer with back up biomass burner and thermal storage. Case Stud Therm Eng2018; 12: 149–165.
JulienGAEmmanuelLClementA, et al.Modelling of solar energy transfer through roof material in Africa Sub-Saharan regions. Renew Energy2013; 34: 632–645.
18.
KalogirouS. Parabolic trough collectors for industrial process heat in Cyprus. Energy2002; 27: 813–830.
19.
KalogirouS. The potential of solar industrial process heat applications. Appl Energy2003; 73: 337–361.
20.
LeonAMKumarSBhattachayaSC. A comprehensive procedure for performance evaluation of Solar Food Dryers. Renew Sustain Energy Rev2002; 6: 367–393.
21.
LhendupT. Technical and financial feasibility of a solar dryer in Bhutan. Energy Sustain Dev2005; 9: 17–24.
22.
MohanrajMChandrasekarP. Performance of forced convection solar drier integrated with gravel as heat storage material for chilli drying. J Eng Sci Technol2009; 4: 305–314.
23.
MusembiMNKeptooKSYuichiN. Design and analysis of solar dryer for midlatitude region. Energy Proc2016; 100: 98–110.
24.
RomanFNagleMLeisH, et al.Potential of roof-integrated solar collectors for preheating air at drying facilities in Northern Thailand. Renew Energy2009; 34: 173–177.
25.
ReussMBenkertSTAeberhardA, et al.Modelling and experimental investigation of a pilot plant for solar wood drying. Solar Energy1997; 59: 257–270.
26.
SpalaABagiorgasHSAssimakopoulosMN, et al.On the green roof system, selection, state of the art and energy potential investigation of a system installed in an office building in Athens, Greece. Renew Energy2008; 33: 173–177.
27.
TonuiKSMutaiEBKMutuliDA, et al.Design and evaluation of Solar Grain Dryer with a back-up heater. Res J Appl Sci Eng Technol2014; 7: 3036–3043.
28.
NeilJS. Encyclopedia of research design, Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2010.
29.
McAdamsWH. Convective heat transmission, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 1954.
30.
RaiGD. Solar energy utilization: A text book for engineering students, 5th ed. Delhi, India: Khanna Publishers, 2008.
