Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl<sub>2</sub> Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying

Susan Andrew Mbacho; Thomas Thoruwa; Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at; Elias Ako

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11

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Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl₂ Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying

Susan Andrew Mbacho, Thomas Thoruwa, Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at, Elias Ako

Published in American Journal of Energy Engineering (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 28 March 2021 Accepted: 19 April 2021 Published: 29 April 2021

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Abstract

The use of solar energy in drying of perishable crops such as tomatoes is a good alternative to the problem of post-harvest processing in tropical eastern African countries. A review of the literature revealed that most of the solar crop drying systems developed during the last five decades have small loading capacity and cannot operate during the night. Therefore, an integrated solar greenhouse dryer system [SGDS] with Clay-CaCl₂ desiccant energy storage system was designed and tested. Such SGDS have the advantage over other solar systems of high loading capacity and structural simplicity. In addition, they have relatively good thermal crop drying performance compared to most solar dryers. However, their main limitation, like most solar dryers, is their inability to dry at night. Therefore, to enhance night-time drying capacity, a prototype SGDS integrated with a low-cost Clay-CaCl₂ desiccant energy storage system was designed, fabricated, and tested. The drying performance of this prototype was evaluated using loads of fresh tomatoes during October – December 2019 at Nairobi, Kenya. The dryer was able to dry fresh tomatoes from 93.9% (mcwb) to 8.3% (mcwb) within 27hours with solar greenhouse drying efficiency of 23% during daytime and desiccant drying efficiency of 19.9% during nighttime. The drying rate for the two-day light drying was 0.985kg/h and 0.875kg/h respectively and that in night drying using desiccants was 0.34kg/h. Based on these results, it was concluded that prototype solar greenhouse dryer with Clay-CaCl₂ energy storage has great potential for drying perishable produce such as tomatoes in tropical countries.

Published in	American Journal of Energy Engineering (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11
Page(s)	19-29
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Clay-CaCl₂ Solid Desiccants, Desiccant Energy Storage, Drying Efficiency, Drying Time, Solar Greenhouse Drying, Tomatoes

References

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APA Style

Susan Andrew Mbacho, Thomas Thoruwa, Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at, Elias Ako. (2021). Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying. American Journal of Energy Engineering, 9(2), 19-29. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11

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ACS Style

Susan Andrew Mbacho; Thomas Thoruwa; Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at; Elias Ako. Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying. Am. J. Energy Eng. 2021, 9(2), 19-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11

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AMA Style

Susan Andrew Mbacho, Thomas Thoruwa, Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at, Elias Ako. Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying. Am J Energy Eng. 2021;9(2):19-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11,
  author = {Susan Andrew Mbacho and Thomas Thoruwa and Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at and Elias Ako},
  title = {Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying},
  journal = {American Journal of Energy Engineering},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {19-29},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajee.20210902.11},
  abstract = {The use of solar energy in drying of perishable crops such as tomatoes is a good alternative to the problem of post-harvest processing in tropical eastern African countries. A review of the literature revealed that most of the solar crop drying systems developed during the last five decades have small loading capacity and cannot operate during the night. Therefore, an integrated solar greenhouse dryer system [SGDS] with Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed and tested. Such SGDS have the advantage over other solar systems of high loading capacity and structural simplicity. In addition, they have relatively good thermal crop drying performance compared to most solar dryers. However, their main limitation, like most solar dryers, is their inability to dry at night. Therefore, to enhance night-time drying capacity, a prototype SGDS integrated with a low-cost Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed, fabricated, and tested. The drying performance of this prototype was evaluated using loads of fresh tomatoes during October – December 2019 at Nairobi, Kenya. The dryer was able to dry fresh tomatoes from 93.9% (mcwb) to 8.3% (mcwb) within 27hours with solar greenhouse drying efficiency of 23% during daytime and desiccant drying efficiency of 19.9% during nighttime. The drying rate for the two-day light drying was 0.985kg/h and 0.875kg/h respectively and that in night drying using desiccants was 0.34kg/h. Based on these results, it was concluded that prototype solar greenhouse dryer with Clay-CaCl₂ energy storage has great potential for drying perishable produce such as tomatoes in tropical countries.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying
AU  - Susan Andrew Mbacho
AU  - Thomas Thoruwa
AU  - Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at
AU  - Elias Ako
Y1  - 2021/04/29
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11
T2  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
SP  - 19
EP  - 29
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-163X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11
AB  - The use of solar energy in drying of perishable crops such as tomatoes is a good alternative to the problem of post-harvest processing in tropical eastern African countries. A review of the literature revealed that most of the solar crop drying systems developed during the last five decades have small loading capacity and cannot operate during the night. Therefore, an integrated solar greenhouse dryer system [SGDS] with Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed and tested. Such SGDS have the advantage over other solar systems of high loading capacity and structural simplicity. In addition, they have relatively good thermal crop drying performance compared to most solar dryers. However, their main limitation, like most solar dryers, is their inability to dry at night. Therefore, to enhance night-time drying capacity, a prototype SGDS integrated with a low-cost Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed, fabricated, and tested. The drying performance of this prototype was evaluated using loads of fresh tomatoes during October – December 2019 at Nairobi, Kenya. The dryer was able to dry fresh tomatoes from 93.9% (mcwb) to 8.3% (mcwb) within 27hours with solar greenhouse drying efficiency of 23% during daytime and desiccant drying efficiency of 19.9% during nighttime. The drying rate for the two-day light drying was 0.985kg/h and 0.875kg/h respectively and that in night drying using desiccants was 0.34kg/h. Based on these results, it was concluded that prototype solar greenhouse dryer with Clay-CaCl₂ energy storage has great potential for drying perishable produce such as tomatoes in tropical countries.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Susan Andrew Mbacho

Department of Energy Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Thomas Thoruwa

Department of Physics and Technology, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at

Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Elias Ako

Department of Energy Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

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Susan Andrew Mbacho, Thomas Thoruwa, Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at, Elias Ako. (2021). Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying. American Journal of Energy Engineering, 9(2), 19-29. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11

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ACS Style

Susan Andrew Mbacho; Thomas Thoruwa; Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at; Elias Ako. Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying. Am. J. Energy Eng. 2021, 9(2), 19-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11

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AMA Style

Susan Andrew Mbacho, Thomas Thoruwa, Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at, Elias Ako. Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying. Am J Energy Eng. 2021;9(2):19-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11,
  author = {Susan Andrew Mbacho and Thomas Thoruwa and Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at and Elias Ako},
  title = {Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying},
  journal = {American Journal of Energy Engineering},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {19-29},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajee.20210902.11},
  abstract = {The use of solar energy in drying of perishable crops such as tomatoes is a good alternative to the problem of post-harvest processing in tropical eastern African countries. A review of the literature revealed that most of the solar crop drying systems developed during the last five decades have small loading capacity and cannot operate during the night. Therefore, an integrated solar greenhouse dryer system [SGDS] with Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed and tested. Such SGDS have the advantage over other solar systems of high loading capacity and structural simplicity. In addition, they have relatively good thermal crop drying performance compared to most solar dryers. However, their main limitation, like most solar dryers, is their inability to dry at night. Therefore, to enhance night-time drying capacity, a prototype SGDS integrated with a low-cost Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed, fabricated, and tested. The drying performance of this prototype was evaluated using loads of fresh tomatoes during October – December 2019 at Nairobi, Kenya. The dryer was able to dry fresh tomatoes from 93.9% (mcwb) to 8.3% (mcwb) within 27hours with solar greenhouse drying efficiency of 23% during daytime and desiccant drying efficiency of 19.9% during nighttime. The drying rate for the two-day light drying was 0.985kg/h and 0.875kg/h respectively and that in night drying using desiccants was 0.34kg/h. Based on these results, it was concluded that prototype solar greenhouse dryer with Clay-CaCl₂ energy storage has great potential for drying perishable produce such as tomatoes in tropical countries.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Performance of an Integrated Solar-Greenhouse Photovoltaic Ventilated Dryer with Clay-CaCl2 Energy Storage Desiccants for Tomato Drying
AU  - Susan Andrew Mbacho
AU  - Thomas Thoruwa
AU  - Nickson Kipngetich Lang’at
AU  - Elias Ako
Y1  - 2021/04/29
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11
T2  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
SP  - 19
EP  - 29
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-163X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20210902.11
AB  - The use of solar energy in drying of perishable crops such as tomatoes is a good alternative to the problem of post-harvest processing in tropical eastern African countries. A review of the literature revealed that most of the solar crop drying systems developed during the last five decades have small loading capacity and cannot operate during the night. Therefore, an integrated solar greenhouse dryer system [SGDS] with Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed and tested. Such SGDS have the advantage over other solar systems of high loading capacity and structural simplicity. In addition, they have relatively good thermal crop drying performance compared to most solar dryers. However, their main limitation, like most solar dryers, is their inability to dry at night. Therefore, to enhance night-time drying capacity, a prototype SGDS integrated with a low-cost Clay-CaCl2 desiccant energy storage system was designed, fabricated, and tested. The drying performance of this prototype was evaluated using loads of fresh tomatoes during October – December 2019 at Nairobi, Kenya. The dryer was able to dry fresh tomatoes from 93.9% (mcwb) to 8.3% (mcwb) within 27hours with solar greenhouse drying efficiency of 23% during daytime and desiccant drying efficiency of 19.9% during nighttime. The drying rate for the two-day light drying was 0.985kg/h and 0.875kg/h respectively and that in night drying using desiccants was 0.34kg/h. Based on these results, it was concluded that prototype solar greenhouse dryer with Clay-CaCl₂ energy storage has great potential for drying perishable produce such as tomatoes in tropical countries.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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