Performances analysis of greenhouse solar dryer with heat exchanger

A greenhouse solar dryer with heat exchanger was tested for salted catfish in Perlis, Malaysia at average solar radiation of 626 W/m. The dryer consists of the heat pipe evacuated tube collector, electric heaters, blower, pumps, water tank, and green136 Ahmad Fudholi et al. house drying chamber. The average temperature of the drying chamber is 44C. The drying time is 18 h (8h day time and 10h night time). The total energy required used is 294.98 kWh and the solar energy contribution is 60 % of the total energy. The electric heaters, and blower-pump power used is 29 % and 11 %, respectively. The moisture extraction rate (MER) and specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) obtained of 6.3 kg/h and of 0.385 kg/kWh, respectively. The values for exergy efficiency varied between 29 % and 82 % with an average of 46 %. Economic analysis showed that system is a payback period about 1 year.