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Performance evaluation of a v-groove solar air collector for drying maize (Zea mays) in Iraq

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journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-18, 03:08 authored by MK Abdullah, AA Gatea
In this work, a solar drying system was constructed, consisting of three parts (solar collector, drying chamber, and air blower). Solar collector having V-corrugated absorption plate of two air passes, a single glass cover was used. The total area of the collectors is 2.04 m 2 . The dimension of the drying chamber is 1.06, 0.66 and 0.56 m for width, depth, and height, respectively. 38 kg of corn were dried. The moisture content was reduced from 21 to 13% within four hours drying. The drying air temperatures at the inlet of the dryer were found in the range of 30 to 45°C when the range of ambient air temperature was from 8.5 to 20°C and total solar radiation intensity was from 270 to 560 W/m2. Increasing volumetric air flow rate from 0.025 to 0.030 m3/s raises the daily solar collector efficiency by 3.25%, while increasing volumetric air flow rate from 0.030 to 0.035 m3/s raises the solar daily collector efficiency by 11.11%. The drying rate is reduced with the decrease of moisture content. Efficiency of the collector is very much dependant on air flow rate.

History

Journal

African journal of agricultural research

Volume

6

Pagination

817-824

Location

Ebène, Mauritius

Open access

  • Yes

eISSN

1991-637X

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article, C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2011, Academic Journals

Issue

4

Publisher

Academic Journals