A study of solar and biomass-fuelled hybrid drying systems | |
| Author | Aung Myint Khaing |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. ET-00-12 |
| Subject(s) | Solar dryers Biomass energy |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | A solar and biomass fuelled hybrid dryer for agricultural products was designed, fabricated and tested. The dryer can be used for drying in direct or indirect contact modes. The dryer consists of five main pmts; (1) a gasifier stove or two stage gasifier for generating producer gas needed to supply heat to the system, (2) a heat exchanger unit for transfelTing heat from the hot flue gas to the process air in case of indirect contact drying and for distiibution of hot flue gas in the dryer in case of direct contact drying, (3) a drying chamber in which the product to be dried was placed and (4) flat plate solar collector to heat up process air during day-time, (5) a temperature control system for stove in order to maintain temperature inside the drying chamber at an appropriate level. The performance of this dryer was evaluated in te1ms of drying efficiency, drying air temperature, fuel consumption rate, drying duration and the quality of the dried product. No-load tests conducted in the indirect contact drying and direct contact drying modes showed that the process air temperature could be controlled within the permissible level of 55-65°C. Load tests were conducted with banana and chili for indirect contact drying. The efficiency of banana drying for indirect contact drying was 8.1 %. The efficiency of chili drying for indirect contact drying was 6.7%. Load tests were also conducted with bananas for direct contact drying by using a charcoal gasifier and a two stage gasifier. The efficiency by using the charcoal gasifier was 10.3%. The efficiency by using the two stage gasifier was 10.9%. The quality of products obtained in either case was similar to that in case of indirect contact drying and of products found in the local market. |
| Year | 2000 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Bhattacharya, S. C. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kumar, S.;Surapong Chirarattananon |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of France |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2000 |