Energy Analysis of Greenhouse Dryer for Ficus Carica L. Leaves

Abstract

In this study, a greenhouse solar dryer with double-pass multi-hollow collector for leaf drying was design, constructed, and evaluated. From the result, the double pass solar air collector with multi-hollow tube is capable of increasing air temperature by 5.5 degrees C-10.8 degrees C compared to ambient air temperature. Thermal efficiency of the dryer was evaluated for passive and active modes, where 47.2% and 50% are recorded respectively. The moisture reduction on mass basis in passive and active dryer recorded was 44% and 74%, respectively. The specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) and specific energy consumption (SEC) of passive dryer was determined to be 0.198 kg per kWh and 5.047 kWh per kg, and active dryer at 0.210 kg per kWh and 4.769 kWh per kg, respectively.