Mathematical Modeling and Optimization of a Hybrid Semi Transparent Indirect Solar Dryer Integrated With Kitchen Chimney

Abstract

In the proposed research work, an effort has been made to develop a thermal model for a semitransparent photovoltaic thermal (PVT) solar dryer integrated with a kitchen chimney for faster drying of agricultural produce to enhance its shelf life. The thermal model has been evolved on the basis of energy balance equations which are derived by the design criteria of the dryer for a semi-transparent air collector and N-Semi-transparent air collectors, associated in series and parallel combinations for a given quantity of PVT air collectors at different climatic parameters in the month of April in New Delhi. It has been observed that there is an increase of 8oC in the drying chamber for the initial kitchen chimney outlet temperature of 72oC with a packing factor of 0.83 for the semi-transparent solar cells, which has also been validated by the ANN model. It also has been found that with the increase of the semi-transparent photovoltaic thermal (SPVT) air collectors associated in series, temperature of fluid (air) at outlet also increases. Due to the increment of the outlet fluid temperature significant decrement can be seen in the electrical efficiency PV module. For a given quantity of SPVT collectors (N), the combination of SPVT air collectors associated in both series and parallel has been investigated to maximize the thermal and electrical output. PVT air collector generate the electrical energy which is used to run the fan, placed between PVT air collector and drying chamber. This complete set up is self- sustainable. The annual low exergy (thermal Energy) and high exergy (electrical energy) performance have been assessed for a semi-transparent PVT solar dryer integrated with a kitchen chimney. The values of electrical energy and annual thermal energy for all weather conditions named as A, B, C, and D have been obtained by comparing the different packing factors at different chimney temperatures for Delhi climatic conditions.