Simulation model of the thermal performance of a natural convection-type solar tunnel dryer

The basic objective of this paper is to develop a comprehensive simulation model of the thermal performance of solar tunnel dryer. The model is useful in system design as it is sensitive to the design parameters of air collec tor and dryer (like, length, radius, tunnel tilt, etc.). It is also useful in determining the drying behaviour of high-moisture products (vegetables, fruits, etc.) as well as low-moisture products (barely, wheat, etc.). The p erformance of the dryer has been estimated for a natural convection mode fl ow. A transient one-dimensional model was developed for the dryer and the n umerical calculations were made for the climate of Delhi. It is observed th at a large quantity of barley about 2135 kg can be dried in this dryer with in two days of operation upto an equilibrium moisture content. (C) 1998 Joh n Wiley & Sons Ltd.