Experimental testing of solar dryer with rock bed heat storage working by natural convection
- Bangkok : Asian Institute of Technology, 1985
- 104, A12 p.
- Thesis ; no. ET-85-11 .
- Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. ET-85-11 .
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development
Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1985
A solar dryer with a solar air heater, rock bed heat storage was designed, fabricated and tested without load. The absorber plate of the solar air heater was corrugated iron sheet having absorber area of 9 m2 and 0.7315 m3 of ordinary rough gravel was used as heat storage medium. The performance of the solar dryer for the selected clear, clouded , rainy and the day after rainy days, has been presented. The system was found capable to smoothen the temperature in the chamber during day time and maintain the temperature 4-8°c above the ambient during most of bright as well as dull days. The solar dryer was also tested with a cowl to observe the possible use of wind energy to force air through the system. A simple mathematical model is developed to predict the temperature profi1e through the system, working by natura1 convection. The mode l was found capable of predicting closely the temperatures through the system and the average chamber temperature.