Numerical investigation of thermal and airflow profiles in diverse solar dryer chamber configurations
Muhammad Aqil Afham Rahmat, Adnan Ibrahim, Muhammad Amir Aziat Bin Ishak, Ubaidah Syafiq, Khaled M. Al-Aribe
Abstract
The air configuration within the drying chamber scenario is crucial for achieving uniform temperature and air velocity distribution. This research aims to analyze the configurations of the drying chamber for the solar dryer type by utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A research investigation is undertaken to ascertain the most effective air configuration that guarantees uniform thermal and airflow profiles within the chamber, with three scenarios (A, B, and C) considered for evaluation. The temperature and air velocity distributions determine which scenario achieves the most uniformity. The findings showed that the maximum mass flow rate of 0.240 kg/s improves temperature uniformity. Scenario C had optimum thermal and air velocity profiles and the most consistent temperature. In all scenarios, the mass flow rate increment increased the average chamber air velocity, whereas the increment of solar irradiation increased the average chamber temperature. The optimal mass flow rate and irradiance conditions were 0.240 kg/s and 1000 W/m2. The ideal solar dryer drying chamber has outputs at the bottom and inlets on the right and left sides, resulting in downward airflow. Previous numerical and experimental results verify the optimal scenario. By applying this verified, generalized CFD analysis, the drying performance in the drying chamber can be evaluated in terms of the temperature and air velocity parameters of the air within the chamber.