Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product
As the world transitions towards green energy sources solar drying has become a vital technology for sustainable agricultural production, offering a cleaner, more efficient alternative to traditional drying methods. Solar drying has been demonstrated to be a sustainable and eco-friendly drying proce...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Green Energy and Resources |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949720525000050 |
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| author | Onyinyechi Nnamchi Cyprian Tom Godwin Akpan Murphy Umunna David Ubong Mathew Ibeh Adindu Linus–Chibuezeh Leonard Akuwueke Stephen Nnamchi Augustine Ben Macmanus Ndukwu |
| author_facet | Onyinyechi Nnamchi Cyprian Tom Godwin Akpan Murphy Umunna David Ubong Mathew Ibeh Adindu Linus–Chibuezeh Leonard Akuwueke Stephen Nnamchi Augustine Ben Macmanus Ndukwu |
| author_sort | Onyinyechi Nnamchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As the world transitions towards green energy sources solar drying has become a vital technology for sustainable agricultural production, offering a cleaner, more efficient alternative to traditional drying methods. Solar drying has been demonstrated to be a sustainable and eco-friendly drying process for drying and preserving agricultural products, offering advantages over traditional methods that include faster drying rates, improved product quality, and reduced energy costs. This review examines the mechanisms and methods applicable to solar drying, including indirect and direct solar drying, hybrid systems combining solar drying with other heating sources, and thermal storage materials to address challenges such as intermittent solar radiation. The designs of solar drying systems include various solar collector configurations, drying chamber geometries, and air conveyance mechanisms crucial for efficient drying. This review therefore explores different design approaches and their effects on drying performance, highlighting the importance of understanding the complex interactions between system components. Additionally, the approach for Energy and exergy analysis of solar drying systems was explored, providing insights into energy utilization and efficiency. Finally, this review elucidates the complex transport phenomena governing solar drying, including moisture diffusion, heat and mass transfer, and airflow patterns. It identifies knowledge gaps in existing models and future research directions in transport modelling phenomena to advance sustainable, efficient, and scalable solar drying techniques. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ee7deb5b1f14e3bb43be19c0797d74d |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2949-7205 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Green Energy and Resources |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ee7deb5b1f14e3bb43be19c0797d74d2025-07-28T04:16:44ZengElsevierGreen Energy and Resources2949-72052025-06-0132100118Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of productOnyinyechi Nnamchi0Cyprian Tom1Godwin Akpan2Murphy Umunna3David Ubong4Mathew Ibeh5Adindu Linus–Chibuezeh6Leonard Akuwueke7Stephen Nnamchi8Augustine Ben9Macmanus Ndukwu10Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PortHarcourt, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria, Akwa Ibom 520108, Nigeria; Department of Process and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Delta State University of Science and Technology Ozoro, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria, Akwa Ibom 520108, NigeriaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, NigeriaDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, NigeriaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, SEAS, Kampala International University, Ggaba Road, Kansanga, 20000 Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Bioresources Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Rd, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, CanadaDepartment of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria, Akwa Ibom 520108, Nigeria; Corresponding author.As the world transitions towards green energy sources solar drying has become a vital technology for sustainable agricultural production, offering a cleaner, more efficient alternative to traditional drying methods. Solar drying has been demonstrated to be a sustainable and eco-friendly drying process for drying and preserving agricultural products, offering advantages over traditional methods that include faster drying rates, improved product quality, and reduced energy costs. This review examines the mechanisms and methods applicable to solar drying, including indirect and direct solar drying, hybrid systems combining solar drying with other heating sources, and thermal storage materials to address challenges such as intermittent solar radiation. The designs of solar drying systems include various solar collector configurations, drying chamber geometries, and air conveyance mechanisms crucial for efficient drying. This review therefore explores different design approaches and their effects on drying performance, highlighting the importance of understanding the complex interactions between system components. Additionally, the approach for Energy and exergy analysis of solar drying systems was explored, providing insights into energy utilization and efficiency. Finally, this review elucidates the complex transport phenomena governing solar drying, including moisture diffusion, heat and mass transfer, and airflow patterns. It identifies knowledge gaps in existing models and future research directions in transport modelling phenomena to advance sustainable, efficient, and scalable solar drying techniques.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949720525000050Heat and mass transferSolar dryingBio-materialsDrying |
| spellingShingle | Onyinyechi Nnamchi Cyprian Tom Godwin Akpan Murphy Umunna David Ubong Mathew Ibeh Adindu Linus–Chibuezeh Leonard Akuwueke Stephen Nnamchi Augustine Ben Macmanus Ndukwu Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product Green Energy and Resources Heat and mass transfer Solar drying Bio-materials Drying |
| title | Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product |
| title_full | Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product |
| title_fullStr | Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product |
| title_short | Solar dryers: A review of mechanism, methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product |
| title_sort | solar dryers a review of mechanism methods and critical analysis of transport models applicable in solar drying of product |
| topic | Heat and mass transfer Solar drying Bio-materials Drying |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949720525000050 |
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