Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'SOLAR CHIMNEY DRYING SYSTEM'

Solar chimney is an important passive design strategy to maximize solar gain to enhance buoyancy effect for achieving adequate air flow rate and a desired level of thermal comfort inside a building. Therefore, solar chimney has the potential advantages over mechanical ventilation systems in terms of energy requirement, economic and environmental benefits. The main aim of this project is to study the technical feasibility of a solar chimney incorporating latent heat storage (LHS) system for domestic heating and cooling applications. The research work carried out and reported in this thesis includes: the development of a detailed theoretical model to calculate the phase change material (PCM) mass for solar chimney under specific climatic condition, the development of a CFD model to optimise the channel depth and the inlet and outlet sizes for the solar chimney geometry, experimental and numerical investigations of the thermal performance of the proposed system using a prototype set-up, a parametric study on the proposed system to identify significant parameters that affect the system performance was carried out by using the verified numerical model. The numerical and experimental study showed that the numerical model has the ability to calculate the PCM mass for the proposed system for the given weather conditions. The optimum PCM should be selected on the basis of its melting temperature, rather than its other properties such as latent heat. The experimental work on the thermal performance of the proposed system has been carried out. The results indicated that the LHS based solar chimney is technically viable. The outlet air temperature and the air flow rate varied within a small range during phase change transition period which are important for a solar air heating system. A numerical model was developed to reproduce the experimental conditions in terms of closed mode and open mode. The model results were in a close agreement with the experimental results particularly the simulated results for the discharging process. With the verified model, a comprehensive parametric analysis intended to optimise the thermal performance of proposed the system was performed. The results analysed are quantified in terms of charging/discharging time of the PCM, temperature difference between outlet air and inlet air of the solar chimney, and mass flow rate of the chimney, which are the most important quantities of the proposed system.

Syftet med denna studie är att, genom termiskt nätverksmodellering för kombinerad värme och massöverföring, undersöka möjligheten att integrera en solskorsten med en evaporationskyl. Avsikten är att potentiellt öka luftflödet runt kylen samt dess kylförmåga. Jämviktstillstånd samt transienta förlopp simuleras med hjälp av mjukvaruprogrammet MATLAB. Utfallet av studien indikerar att föreslagna tillämpningsområdet för solskorstenen ökar kylpotentialen för evaporationskylen. Solskorstenen kan generera ett tillräckligt luftflöde på mer än 0.5 m/s. Med en omgivningstemperatur på 30 C°, luftfuktighet på 40 % och ett luftflöde på 0.5 m/s kan evaporationskylen bibehålla 25 % lägre förvaringstemperatur gentemot omgivningstemperaturen.
The purpose of this study is to, through thermal network modelling and coupled heat and mass transfer analysis, investigate the cooling process of an evaporation fridge combined with a solar chimney. The solar chimney is connected to the evaporation fridge in an attempt to increase the airflow, around the evaporation fridge, and the cooling capacity. Steady state and transient regimes are simulated in the software MATLAB. The findings indicate that utilizing a solar chimney for the stated purposes will increase the cooling potential of the evaporation fridge. The solar chimney is able to produce a satisfactory air flow velocity of more than 0.5 m/s. With an ambient temperature of 30 C°, relative humidity at 40 % and an air flow rate of 0.5 m/s the evaporation fridge maintains a 25 % lower storage temperature compared to the ambient temperature.

The purpose of this investigation is to find out suitability of the solar chimney natural ventilation system in a Zero Energy Lab located at the University of North Texas campus, to figure out performance of the solar chimney. Reduction in the heating and ventilation and air conditioning energy consumption of the house has been also analyzed. The parameters which are considered for investigation are volumetric flow rate of outlet of chimney, the absorber wall temperature and glass wall temperatures. ANSYS FLUENT 14.0 has been employed for the 3-D modeling of the solar chimney. The dimensions of the solar chimney are 14’2” X 7’4” X 6’11”. The flow inside solar chimney is found to be laminar and the simulation results show that maximum outlet volumetric flow rate of about 0.12m3/s or 432 cfm is possible from chimney. The experimental velocity of chimney was found to be 0.21 m/s. Density Boussinesq approximation is considered for the modeling. Velocity and temperature sensors have been installed at inlet and outlet of the chimney in order to validate the modeling results. It is found that based on simulated volumetric flow rate that cooling load of 9.29 kwh can be saved and fan power of 7.85 Watts can be saved.

Thesis (MEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2007.
ENGLISH: The design, construction and testing of a passive thermal system, a roof solar chimney, for a loft is considered. Unlike conventional solar chimneys the solar collector is constructed from corrugated iron roof sheets with the aim that it can be integrated into existing buildings at a lower cost or used in low cost housing developments. The main objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of such low-cost design to regulate thermal conditions in a loft, that is heating the loft during winter and enhancing natural ventilation during summer, by carrying out an experimental and analytical study. The results obtained from the experimental study showed that for winter the solar chimney, having a channel width, depth and length of 0.7 m, 0.1 m and 1.8 m respectively and with a peal solar radiation of 850 W/m², heated the room air 5°C higher than the ambient temperature during the hottest periods of the day, which is only marginally better than a loft with conventional roof insulation. At night, it was found that reverse airflow occurred through the chimney, cooling the loft down to ambient temperature, due to radiation heat loss from the roof collector to the night sky. For summer operation, the experimental data showed that the chimney was able to maintain the loft at ambient temperature and the analytical study found that the chimney was able to enhance natural ventilation effectively, reaching air exchange rate of 6.6 per hour for the 4.6 m³ volume space. It was also found that the chimney’s performance dropped rapidly and significantly during periods of low solar radiation and at night. A sensitivity analysis illustrated that for both summer and winter operation, the size, tilt angle and absorptivity of the roof collector greatly effected the efficiency and mass flow rates of the system, agreeing well with other literature. These results prove that this low cost solar chimney cooling design was feasible to enhance natural ventilation mainly during hot summer conditions with high solar radiation. Compared to a loft with only conventional roof insulation, the chimney did not perform effectively during the winter to heat the loft up, meaning that winter operation for this specific design is not feasible. Possible improvements to the design include using construction materials with higher thermal capacities to retain heat energy and ensure continued operation during periods of low solar radiation, as well as using selective absorber coatings on the collector surface. It is recommended that further work on the project include the integration of these improvements into the present design and to use the findings obtained from the sensitivity analysis to improve system efficiencies. CFD analysis of the test-rig will be insightful as an additional means to validate and compare with the analytical and experimental data obtained in this report. With the continuation of these studies, this low-cost solar chimney design can be optimised, validated on a commercial scale and built into existing and new housing developments. Incorporating such a passive thermal device will aid homeowners in air regulation and thermal comfort of their living space as well as saving on energy requirements.
Sponsored by the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University

The present work has the main aim of testing and implementing the performance of an innovative system for biological sludge drying, which combines an inner high-performance sludge burner with solar air heaters. The research question is how to implement the design and structure of the drying system, defining the best working conditions (best temperature, materials and dimensions of its components, etc.). The state-of-the-art of water treatment and in particular of biological sludge from urban sewage is introduced, with an insight also on management and investment costs. The solar drying technology is then described and the project of the system is presented. In addition, the possible environmental gains that the technology could bring are shown, e.g. saving in transportation because of the diminution in volume of the biological sludge with the drying process. Since the prototype is still not completed, the testing has been done separately in a solar drying system and in an oven, in order to test the response of the biological sludge to solar and thermal heating. In addition, an analysis of the emissions in the atmosphere and a measure of the calorific power during the combustion phase will be done: these data are necessary for the development of the project, because the heat produced with the combustion will be put back inside the system to dry the wet sludge, obtaining a final product with 85% of dry matter. The economical attractiveness of the system is estimated to be high since it can produce large cost savings and it is a product completely new in the market, in terms of expected performances, design, technology and dimensions.

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Automatizar o processo de medição da variação de massa do produto em um secador solar é um avanço em relação ao procedimento atualmente utilizado que é manual. O objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver essa automatização utilizando tecnologia apropriada para ser incorporada ao secador solar em desenvolvimento na Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG). Esses secadores precisam ser simples e de baixo custo para serem utilizados pelo ambiente da agricultura familiar. O processo utilizado consistiu na construção e teste de um protótipo de uma câmara de secagem com forma retangular, de dimensões 32,2 x 43,0 x 34,0 cm, acoplado ao coletor solar. No sistema de medição automatizado foi utilizado uma balança com bandeja em tela de alumínio, de dimensões 37,0 x 21,0 x 6,0 cm, fixada por uma haste de madeira a uma célula de carga, tipo extensômetro de folha, que envia sinais de tensão, proporcionais à variação de massa do produto que esta sendo seco, a uma plataforma de aquisição de dados com Arduino UNO integrada ao equipamento. A célula de carga fixada a bandeja foi instalada dentro e, num experimento seguinte, fora da câmara de secagem. O sistema de aquisição e tratamento de dados também foi instalado na parte externa da câmara de secagem. Foram realizados testes preliminares de medição com a utilização de lâmpadas halógenas, e os resultados obtidos mostraram temperaturas, no interior da câmara, de aproximadamente 45°C ±5ºC, utilizando um peso padrão de 100g. Os resultados obtidos durante a secagem da banana prata (Musa spp), permitiram a construção das curvas de variação de massa de banana e a curva de cinética de secagem. Também foram obtidas as curvas que mostram a variação da temperatura do ar de secagem no interior da câmara. Essa temperatura ficou na faixa de 30ºC a 40ºC, abaixo do esperado que era de 50°C ±10ºC. Por isso a banana atingiu apenas o valor de 44% de teor de umidade em base úmida, acima dos 25% que noBrasil é o máximo para que a banana seca seja considerada banana passa. Foram observadas interferências indesejáveis durante o processo de medição automatizada, as estratégias utilizadas (filtros) para reduzir as interferências não foram suficientes para reduzi-las totalmente e seguirão sendo estudadas em trabalhos futuros.
Automating the process of measuring the mass variation of the product in a solar dryer is an advance over the currently used procedure which is manual. The objective of this work is to develop this automation using appropriate technology to be incorporated into the developing solar dryer at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG). These dryers need to be simple and inexpensive to be used by the family farming environment. The process used consisted in the construction and testing of a prototype of a drying chamber with rectangular shape, dimensions 32.2 x 43.0 x 34.0 cm, coupled to the solar collector. In the automated measurement system, a scale was used with aluminum tray, measuring 37.0 x 21.0 x 6.0 cm, fixed by a wooden rod to a load cell, type extensometer of sheet, which sends voltage signals, proportional to the mass variation of the product being dried, to a data acquisition platform with Arduino UNO integrated to the equipment. The loading cell attached to the tray was installed inside and, in a subsequent experiment, outside the drying chamber. The data acquisition and processing system was also installed on the outside of the drying chamber. Preliminary measurement tests were carried out with the use of halogen lamps, and the results obtained showed temperatures within the chamber of approximately 45°C ± 5°C, using a standard weight of 100 g. The results obtained during the drying of the silver banana (Musa spp) allowed the construction of the banana mass variation curves and the drying kinetic curve. Curves showing the temperature of the drying air inside the chamber were also obtained. This temperature was in the range of 30°C to 40°C, below that expected to be 50°C ± 10°C as a consequence of the low intensity of solar radiation on the days of experiment. Therefore the banana reached only the value of 44% moisture content on wet basis, above the desirable 25%. Undesirable interferences were observed during the automated measurement process, the strategies used (filters) to reduce interferences were not enough to reduce them completely and will continue to be studied in future works.

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Este trabalho apresenta um estudo comparativo de sistemas de secagem para produção de banana passa. Foram utilizados um secador solar de exposição indireta com sistema de aquisição e controle das propriedades termodinâmicas do ar de secagem, e um secador elétrico automatizado com sistema de supervisão e controle embarcados . Os sistemas de secagem estudados neste trabalho foram: secagem solar, secagem elétrica e secagem mista (secagem solar seguida de secagem elétrica). Os testes experimentais foram realizados na UFCG em Campina Grande, PB, para secagem de banana prata (Musa spp.). O produto final obtido pelos três sistemas de secagem apresentou boa qualidade em relação ao aspecto visual, com um percentual de umidade em base úmida menor que 25%, compatível com o recomendado pela Resolução RDC n° 272/05 da ANVISA. O sistema de aquisição e controle de dados, como inovação no secador solar, utilizando a plataforma Arduino, garantiu a medição de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar de secagem nas entradas e saídas do coletor solar e da câmara de secagem, e também o acionamento e controle da convecção forçada no sistema de secagem para manter a temperatura no interior da câmara de secagem entre 40ºC e 60ºC. Como resultado, são apresentados os valores obtidos para rendimento do secador solar, consumo específico de energia (CEE), eficiência do processo de secagem e tempo de secagem. Por meio dos experimentos com o secador solar e com o secador elétrico foram obtidas as curvas de cinética de secagem da banana. Os resultados foram comparados e mostraram que o modelo matemático de Page é apropriado para predizer o tempo de secagem. O coeficiente de determinação (R²) obtido na secagem elétrica, na secagem mista e na secagem solar com controle, foram superiores ao obtido na secagem solar sem controle, isso demostra a importância do controle das propriedades termodinâmicas nos processos de secagem. Com relação ao CEE, o processo de secagem elétrica apresentou um CEE de 379,33 kWh por ciclo com temperatura de 45ºC e 225,54 kWh por ciclo com temperatura de 55ºC. Por outro lado o processo de secagem mista apresentou um CEE de 295,87 kWh por ciclo, a uma temperatura de 45ºC, e o processo de secagem solar apresentou um CEE médio de 45,83 kWh por ciclo. Isso mostra a grande vantagem comparativa do secador solar em relação ao secador elétrico. Com relação à eficiência mássica para os três processos de secagem, os mesmos apresentaram eficiências mássicas equivalentes em torno de 89%, o que já era esperado. Com relação aos rendimentos térmicos do secador solar, obtidos nos processos de secagem solar com controle e sem controle da temperatura , foram respectivamente 27,85% e 30,65%. Esses resultados são ligeiramente maiores que os reportados na literatura, o que indica que o secador solar desenvolvido na UFCG apresenta um elevado padrão na secagem de banana, além do fácil manuseio, construção e operacionalidade.
This paper presents a comparative study of drying systems for the production of dried bananas. An indirect solar exposure dryer with acquisition system and control of the thermodinamic properties of the drying air, and an automatized electric dryer with embedded control and supervision system were used. The drying systems studied in this paper were: solar drying, electrical drying and mixed drying (solar drying followed by electrical drying). The experimental tests were performed at the UFCG in Campina Grande, PB, for the drying of bananas (Musa spp.). The final product obtained by the three drying systems presented good visual aspect, scent and flavour, and moisture percentage at moist base less than 25%, compatible to the resolution RDC nº 272/05 of the ANVISA. The acquisition system a nd data control, added as inovation at the solar dryer, using the Arduino plataform, granted the measurement of the temperature and air relative moisture of drying air, both in the entrance and exit of the solar colector of the drying chamber, and also the activation and control of the forced convection of the drying system to keep the temperature in the drying chamber between 40ºC and 60ºC. As results, the obtained values to the drying system efficiency are presented, specific comsuption of energy (CEE), drying system efficiency and drying time. Through the experiments with the solar and the electric dryers, the curves that represent the drying kinectics of the banana were obtained. The results were compared and showed that Page’s mathematical model is adequate to predict the drying time. The determination coefficient (R²) obtained at the electric dryer was superior to the solar dryer, this shows that the control system of the thermodinamics properties of the drying air is more efficient on the electric dryer. In relation to the CEE, the electric drying showed a CEE of 379.33 kWh per cycle with a temperature of 45ºC and 225.54 kWh per cycle at the temperature of 55ºC . On the other hand, the mixed drying had a CEE of 295.87 kWh per cycle, at a temperature of 45 ºC, and the solar drying a medium CEE of 45.83 kWh per cycle. This shows the great comparative advantage of the solar dryer when compared to the electric dryer. In relation to the massic efficiency to the 3 drying processes, they showed equivalente massi c efficiency around 89%, which was expected. In relation to the thermic efficiencies of the solar dryer, obtained on the experiments with and without temperature control, were respectively 27.85%, 30.65%, these results show that the obtained resulsts are slightly superior to the results reported on the literature, which indicates that the solar dryer under development in the UFCG shows high efficiency to perform the drying of bananas, although its easy to construct and operate.

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In this work a solar drying system for food dehydration was developed. It is a direct exposition drying apparatus that uses solar energy to heat the circulating air. First, the construction and assembly of this apparatus was described, in which was used scrap wraps of used tires for thermal insulation, allowing the reuse of solid waste, being an ecologically correct recycling option. After, the results obtained in experiments for cashew drying showed the thermal and economical feasibility of the proposed solar drying system, focusing on the process of flour production and in its chemical characterization. It was also demonstrated the social importance of this production for socially excluded people, since the value added to this fruit, in relation to its in nature form, may represent an option for job and income generation. The main features of the proposed dryer are its low cost and its easy fabrication and assembly process. After cashew drying, the obtained product was processed into flour by using a knife mill and it was added crushed rapadura to reduce the rancid taste caused by tannin
Apresenta-se um sistema de secagem solar para a desidrata??o de alimentos utilizando um secador de exposi??o direta que trabalha em regime de circula??o natural. Abordam-se os processos de constru??o e montagem desse secador que utiliza isolante t?rmico de raspa de pneu, permitindo a reutiliza??o de materiais, constituindo-se numa op??o ambientalmente correta de reciclagem. O trabalho apresenta resultados de testes realizados para a secagem do caju que atestam as viabilidades t?rmicas e econ?micas do sistema de secagem solar proposto enfocando o processo de produ??o da farinha e an?lises qu?micas para caracteriz?-la. Ser? tamb?m demonstrada a import?ncia social que essa produ??o representa para a popula??o mais exclu?da uma vez que o valor agregado a essa fruta, em rela??o ao in natura, pode representar uma op??o de gera??o de emprego e renda. As principais caracter?sticas do secador proposto s?o seu baixo custo e simples processo de fabrica??o e montagem. Ap?s seco o caju foi transformado em farinha por meio de um moinho de faca, e posteriormente, foi adicionada rapadura triturada para amenizar o sabor ran?oso provocado pelo tanino

Experimental setup was situated on the rooftop of the Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi, India (28.750 N, 77.110 E). SCPP converts solar energy into electricity. In this thesis work, the effect of convective heat transfer coefficient, heat loss factor, heat utilization factor, diffusivity coefficient and instantaneous thermal loss efficiency factor, the design and experimental analysis of system with traditional cylindrical SCPP with solar dryer under the condition of natural convection in passive mode was carried out on hourly basis from 08:00 hours to 18:00 hours. The approach of exergy analysis is also investigating the thermodynamic understanding of the SCPP. Day 1 and day 2 were clear sky, while day 3 was cloudy. And the tests were carried out only in barren conditions of the ground. The convective heat transfer coefficient ranges from 1.29 W/m2 0C to 2.60 W/m2 0C. The HUF ranges from 0.08 – 0.57 and COP ranges from 0.42 – 0.91. The exergetic efficiency of drying system under passive mode ranges from 23.49% – 92.74%. Heat loss factor value varies from 3.93 watts – 51.93 watts and the variation of coefficient of diffusivity value is from 0.003130 to 0.003172. The characteristic equation has been used for experimental results of solar drying system under passive mode to generate linear characteristic equation for clear sky condition. The instantaneous indirect loss efficiency curve have also been analyzed which shows the degree of effectiveness of the system. Also the experimental uncertainty analysis for ambient and ground temperature is calculated as 0.38% and 0.40% respectively which comes out to be within the permissible limit. The maximum temperature attained was 64.20C hence solar dryer can be recommended for drying corn, maize, paddy, pulses, tice, wheat, brinjal, cabbage, garlic, onion, tomatoes.

D. Tech. Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Industrial Design
South Africa has limited reserve electricity resources and many parts of the country have limited access to electricity. Electricity production capacity is at maximum and almost each Giga watt is accounted for. Predictions suggest South Africa would have a serious electricity allocation problem in the very near future and current rolling blackout in many of our cities can attest to the looming problem. The energy crisis in South Africa has highlighted the need to increase electricity generation capacity and to search for alternative energy sources. Solar chimney plants could form part of the solution in the near future in South Africa to create additional power. This study aimed to develop a wind generation system in areas where wind is absent. A solar chimney power plant is expected to provide remote areas in South Africa with electric power, or to complement the current electricity grid. Solar energy and the psychometric state of the air are important to encourage the full development of a solar chimney power plant for the thermal and electrical production of energy for various uses. Research within the South African context and particularly on increasing the effectiveness of the solar chimney power plant technology is lacking; as such this study proposes the development of a solar chimney plant and associated technology to ensure the effectiveness of this plant.

碩士
國立中興大學
機械工程學系所
102
In the present work a bench-scale indirect solar dryer was designed, fabricated and tested to study the transport phenomena in the drying of a porous medium initially soaked with water. In the first section, a resistive heater was used to provide a stable heating of the drying air. Natural and forced convection experiments were conducted on solar dryers of inlet tubes with different sizes (Case A: i.d./o.d. 6mm/8mm, Case B: i.d./o.d. 16mm/20mm) to investigate the effects of flow conditions and the drying air inlet design on the drying performance. Experiments showed that the drying air flow rate has significant effects to the drying rate in Case A, whereas the effects are small in Case B. Moreover, under same air flow rate, the drying rate in Case B is much faster than that in Case A even though the inlet air temperature is lower in the later case. In the second section, a solar lamp was utilized to provide a simulated solar light to heat the drying air to a remodeled solar dryer (Case C). In an attempt to improve the dryer, a circulation cannel was designed and fabricated to recirculate the hot air at the outlet of the dryer to its inlet (Case D). Nevertheless, experimental results showed that the drying rate is decreased with using the circulation channel (Case D) due to higher humidity of the inlet drying air. Finally, a finite element method code was used to analyze the simultaneous heat and mass transport phenomena in the solar dryer. A semi-empirical model was modified and elaborated to obtain the mass diffusivity (D) and the mass transfer coefficient (h_m) of moisture from experimental results. Results showed that the analysis developed in the present study can be applied for dryer design.