Development and performance comparison of mixed-mode solar crop dryers with and without thermal storage

摘要: Abstract The major shortcoming of multiple trays cabinet dryer is uneven drying the products being dried on different trays. Mixed-mode solar crop dryers with and without thermal storage materials were developed tested under same meteorological conditions Zaria, Nigeria. dimensions were: 0.65 m, 0.30 m2, 0.9 m, 0.7 m, 1.64 m 0.43 m for collector length, area, height chamber, chimney height, length chamber width respectively. It was observed that average rates, efficiencies, efficiencies June August 2016 test period are 2.71 × 10−5 kg/s 2.35 × 10−5 kg/s, 67.25% 40.10%, 28.75% 24.20% As per experimental results, efficiency enhanced by about 13% due to used. extent variation investigated using statistical t-test analysis. p-values obtained revealed there no significant difference between rates yam slices positions