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<p>This study presents a novel portable solar dryer integrated with sensible heat storage media (SHSM) for drying agricultural products in high-humidity, resource-constrained regions like Northeast India. Unlike conventional solar dryers, this system uses low-cost SHSM (pebbles, sand, rocks, molten salts) to extend drying beyond daylight, addressing solar intermittency. The compact, foldable design, optimized for smallholder farmers, incorporates a 5.5&#xa0;W photovoltaic (PV)-powered 12&#xa0;V DC fan and locally sourced SHSM, enhancing heat and mass transfer efficiency compared to phase change material (PCM)-based systems. Experiments on turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) compared the SHSM-integrated dryer with a non-SHSM dryer and open sun drying (OSD). With pebbles as the optimal SHSM, the dryer achieved peak temperatures of 67&#xa0;°C, reducing turmeric moisture content from 90 ± 0.5% to 8.8 ± 0.5% in 14 ± 1 active drying hours (total: 31 ± 1&#xa0;h) and ginger from 90 ± 0.5% to 8 ± 0.5% in 12 ± 1&#xa0;h (total: 27 ± 1&#xa0;h), significantly faster than 22–30&#xa0;h for non-SHSM and OSD methods. Uncertainty analysis confirmed reliability (temperature: ±0.1&#xa0;°C; moisture: ±0.5%). Moisture removal rates (MRR) improved, with turmeric dropping from 200&#xa0;g to 16.81&#xa0;g in 14&#xa0;h (vs. 22 ± 2&#xa0;h for OSD). Ventilation at 2.6&#xa0;m/s reduced relative humidity from 62% to 48%, enhancing drying kinetics. SHSM provides a cost-effective alternative to PCMs, with comparable performance at 30–70&#xa0;°C. The life cycle cost (LCC) was 6900 INR, with a life cycle benefit (LCB) of 84,546 INR over 10 years and a payback period (PBP) of 2–2.12 months, ensuring affordability for smallholder farmers. This portable, efficient dryer minimizes post-harvest losses in humid climates, offering a scalable solution for solar-rich, infrastructure-limited regions.</p>

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Development of a High-Performance portable solar dryer integrated with sensible heat storage media for drying agricultural products

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月17日

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  • Silinbou Newmai,
  • Lalhmingsanga Hauchhum,
  • Thokchom Subhaschandra Singh

摘要

This study presents a novel portable solar dryer integrated with sensible heat storage media (SHSM) for drying agricultural products in high-humidity, resource-constrained regions like Northeast India. Unlike conventional solar dryers, this system uses low-cost SHSM (pebbles, sand, rocks, molten salts) to extend drying beyond daylight, addressing solar intermittency. The compact, foldable design, optimized for smallholder farmers, incorporates a 5.5 W photovoltaic (PV)-powered 12 V DC fan and locally sourced SHSM, enhancing heat and mass transfer efficiency compared to phase change material (PCM)-based systems. Experiments on turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) compared the SHSM-integrated dryer with a non-SHSM dryer and open sun drying (OSD). With pebbles as the optimal SHSM, the dryer achieved peak temperatures of 67 °C, reducing turmeric moisture content from 90 ± 0.5% to 8.8 ± 0.5% in 14 ± 1 active drying hours (total: 31 ± 1 h) and ginger from 90 ± 0.5% to 8 ± 0.5% in 12 ± 1 h (total: 27 ± 1 h), significantly faster than 22–30 h for non-SHSM and OSD methods. Uncertainty analysis confirmed reliability (temperature: ±0.1 °C; moisture: ±0.5%). Moisture removal rates (MRR) improved, with turmeric dropping from 200 g to 16.81 g in 14 h (vs. 22 ± 2 h for OSD). Ventilation at 2.6 m/s reduced relative humidity from 62% to 48%, enhancing drying kinetics. SHSM provides a cost-effective alternative to PCMs, with comparable performance at 30–70 °C. The life cycle cost (LCC) was 6900 INR, with a life cycle benefit (LCB) of 84,546 INR over 10 years and a payback period (PBP) of 2–2.12 months, ensuring affordability for smallholder farmers. This portable, efficient dryer minimizes post-harvest losses in humid climates, offering a scalable solution for solar-rich, infrastructure-limited regions.