A Project Report

Entitled

“SOLAR DESICCANT DRYING TECHNOLOGIES AND ITS FOOD

DRYING APPLICATION”

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree of
Bachelor of Technology In
Mechanical Engineering
Submitted by:

Paresh Vigora U19ME196

Jay Agrawal U19ME198
Himanshu Jiwane U19ME155
Vikash Kujur U19ME145

Guided by:
Dr. Amit Kumar
Assistant Professor

Mechanical Engineering Department

SVNIT

2020-2021
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
SARDAR VALLABHBHAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SURAT- 395007, GUJARAT, INDIA
1
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Project report entitled “SOLAR DESICCANT DRYING
TECHNOLOGIES AND ITS FOOD DRYING APPLICATION” submitted by
U19ME196, U19ME198, U19ME155, U19ME145 in fulfilment for the award of
the degree in “Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering during the
academic year 2020-2021, of the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of
Technology, Surat is a record of their own work carried out under our supervision
and guidance.
Date:

Place:

Dr. Amit Kumar Dr. Jyotirmay Banerjee

Assistant Professor Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department Head Mechanical Engineering
SVNIT Department
SVNIT

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SARDAR VALLABHBHAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SURAT- 395007, GUJARAT, INDIA
2
 EXAMINER’S APPROVAL CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project report entitled “SOLAR DESICCANT DRYING
TECHNOLOGIES AND ITS FOOD DRYING APPLICATION” AND ITS FOOD DRYING
APPLICATION” submitted by U19ME196, U19ME198, U17ME155 U19ME145 in fulfilment
for the award of the degree in “Bachelor of Technology” in Mechanical Engineering during the
academic year 2020-2021, of the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat is
hereby approved for the award of the degree. Date:
Place:

Examiners: -

1.) Dr. J. Banerjee (CH.)

2.) Dr. Bade Mukund

3) Dr. Kamlesh Sorate

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The completion of this project would not have been possible without the kind support
and help of many individuals of our institute. I would like to extend my sincere thanks
to all of them.
Firstly, I would like to express my sense of immense gratitude towards my respected
guide Dr. Amit Kumar, Assistant Professor, MED, SVNIT for their guidance and
constant perspective supervision as well as for providing necessary information
regarding the seminar & also for his everlasting support in completing the seminar. I
also express my regards and thanks to Dr. Jyotirmay Banerjee, Professor, Head of
the Mechanical engineering Department SVNIT, Surat.
Special thanks to Mr. Anshu Agrawal, Mr. Pravesh Kushawaha and Mr. Abhishek
Tiwari, Ph.D. Scholar, DoME for their constant help throughout my research work.
I would also like to appreciate all my colleagues whose direct or indirect contribution
helped me a lot to accomplish this report. I would also like to thank all the teaching and
non-teaching staffs for cooperating with me and providing valuable advice which
helped me in the completion of this work.

Finally, I would like to express my thanks to all the member of my family, without their
support I would have never been able to aspire for this level education.

4
 Table of Content

CERTIFICATE FROM THE GUIDE: .....................................................................2

EXAMINERS’ APPROVAL CERTIFICATE .........................................................3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: .........................................................................................4
LIST OF FIGURES: ...................................................................................................7
LIST OF TABLES: .....................................................................................................8
ABSTRACT: ................................................................................................................9
Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................10
1.1 Solar energy & its significance ….........................................................................11
1.2 Drying ....................................................................................................................13
1.2.1 Types of drying methods: .............................................................................. 14
1.2.1.1 Open sun drying ..........................................................................................14
1.2.1.2 Closed solar drying ......................................................................................15
1.2.1.3 Solar desiccant drying .................................................................................15
Chapter 2: Literature review ...................................................................................16
2.1 Desiccant system ...................................................................................................16
2.2 Solid desiccant system principle ...........................................................................16
2.3 Selection of desiccant materials: ...........................................................................17
2.3.1 Silica gel .........................................................................................................18
2.3.2 Zeolite ............................................................................................................18
2.3.3 Molecular sieve ..............................................................................................18
2.3.4 Activated carbon ............................................................................................18
2.4 Selection of desiccant system ...............................................................................19
2.4.1 Desiccant wheel .............................................................................................19
2.4.2 Desiccant bed..................................................................................................20
2.5 Parameters of desiccant wheel ..............................................................................20
2.6 Heat source for regeneration .................................................................................20
2.6.1 Solar Collectors ..............................................................................................21
2.6.1.1 Flat-plate collector ..................................................................................21
2.6.1.2 Evacuated tube collector..........................................................................22
Chapter 3: Experimental investigation for the optimum RPH of Desiccant Wheel
………………………………………………………………………………………..24
3.1 Result and Conclusion: ........................................................................................ 32
Chapter 4: Use of Drying in bananas ......................................................................33

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4.1 Why drying process of banana is necessary ..........................................................33
4.2 Drying characteristic .............................................................................................34
4.3 Banana drying parameters ………………….........................................................35
Chapter 5: Experimental setup …............................................................................36
5.1 Components …………..…….................................................................................36
5.1.1 Evacuated Tube Collector ……….………….................................................36
5.1.2 Desiccant wheel ………………………….....................................................36
5.1.3 Dryer …………..…………...........................….............................................37
5.2 Experimental setup schematic …………………………………………………..38
5.3 Working principal of setup ……………………………………………………...38
5.4 Air flow through the setup ………………………....……………………………39
5.5 Measuring instruments …………………………….……………………………40
REFERENCES .........................................................................................................42

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List of Figures
Figure 1 Solar intensity across various region of the world in kWh/m² ...................... 12
Figure 2: Solar intensity across various regions of India in kWh/m2.......................... 13
Figure 3 Application of desiccant drying..................................................................... 15
Figure 4 Schematic diagram of desiccant drying ......................................................... 17
Figure 5 Schematic diagram of desiccant wheel.......................................................... 21
Figure 6 Schematic diagram of ETC ........................................................................... 23
Figure 7: Variation of Optimization Factor with RPH ................................................ 33
Figure 8: Evacuated Tube Collector ............................................................................ 37
Figure 9: Desiccant wheel with ducting....................................................................... 38
Figure 10: Dryer which Stores Banana and it dries the bananas by hot and dry Air ... 38
Figure 11: Schematic diagram of experiment setup for banana drying ....................... 39

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List of Tables
Table 1: shows comparison of electrical energy used per capita per year for different
countries ....................................................................................................................... 11
Table 2: Basic comparison of desiccant materials [5] ................................................. 18
Table 3: Adsorption capacities and other parameters of some adsorbents for
dehumidification [6]: ................................................................................................... 18
Table 4: shows the parametric study done by different researchers. The primary
material used here is silica gel ..................................................................................... 22
Table 5: shows various methods of regeneration used various applications with their
key features .................................................................................................................. 24
Table 6: Performance of Desiccant wheel at 5 RPH ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 7: Performance of Desiccant wheel at 10 RPH ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 8: Performance of Desiccant wheel at 15 RPH ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 9: Performance of Desiccant wheel at 20 RPH ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 10: Performance of Desiccant wheel at 25 RPH ... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 11: Performance of Desiccant wheel at 30 RPH ... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 12: Performance of Desiccant wheel at 35 RPH ................................................ 31
Table 13: measuring devices specifications ................................................................. 41

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 ABSTRACT

Food is a source of energy for the body, and getting a good quantity of Food is a need
for everyone’s body. As the demand grows due to the fast-increasing population, the
limitation of fertile land leads to a shortage in food production. So, it is necessary to
utilize agricultural products without any wastage. About 30% of food grains are lost
due to mishandling, spoilage, and pest infestation; it signifies that this amount of
produce never reached the consumer.

This causes Wastage of Food, most of the wastage of Raw Food is because moisture in
the air causes the Food products prone to insects which tend to destroy them. Food
drying can be a good solution for this issue and it is a well-established fact that drying
improves the life of the product. This report reviewed the various types of drying
methods such as sun drying, vacuum drying, cold drying, infrared drying, desiccant
drying, hybrid drying, and solar desiccant air drying.

The introduction about the selection criteria of desiccant material & regeneration
method of desiccant material is demonstrated. Sun-drying being the oldest of the drying
methods is the cheapest, but the final dried product quality is not uniform. Modern
drying methods such as vacuum drying or infrared drying give good drying results but
these are very expensive.

Solar desiccant drying can be a very effective technology for food drying because it can
maintain a balance between the quality and cost of the dried product. In the present
study, the optimum rotation speed of the desiccant wheel is found and several
experiments have been performed for banana drying. Further, the quality of the dried
banana is compared with the banana by using direct solar drying.

KEYWORDS: drying techniques, solar desiccant drying, food drying, desiccant

material, optimum rotating speed.

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 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

According to the United Nations, population of our world is around 7.7 billion, which
is forecasted to be increased to 9.7 billion by the end of 2050. In the world, still about
820 million are malnourished, which is around 11% of the whole population [1]. The
Food and Agricultural organization emphasis that food waste is more or less made at a
different level of the food supply chain (FSC). It is classified into five parts:

a) Agricultural production

b) Post-harvest handling and storage

c) Processing

d) Distribution

e) Consumption.

Approximately one-third of food produced in FSC is lost annually, amounting to 1,3

billion kilograms. Moisture is the leading cause of crop degradation, and research
indicates that removing moisture from a space reduces the rate of crop decomposition.
Polluting the environment surrounding crops can increase the rate of degradation and
hasten crop loss. As a result, this issue must be carefully evaluated and addressed in the
future, because a rapid increase in the world's population will undoubtedly increase the
demand for food, and despite our technological prowess, nature requires time, i.e., the
soil requires sufficient time to recover its nutrients. There are numerous ways to address
these issues of food waste. Food supply chain post-harvest handling, storage, and
processing issues are still the subject of our research, which seeks to identify and
prescribe the necessary solutions (FSC). Several experiments have been conducted for
drying bananas using solar desiccant drying in this study.

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1.1 Solar energy and its significance

Energy is a fundamental requirement of the modern world, and a country's economic

and technological development is dependent on its energy resources and their capacity
to meet its needs.

As a country with a large population, India requires a great deal of Energy resources,
but the majority of these resources are nonrenewable and no replenishable, so they are
not a permanent solution.

Table 1: shows comparison of electrical energy used per capita per year for
different countries

Country Electrical energy Population Average energy per

consumption (GW- capita (kWhper
person per year)
hr/yr)

CHINA 7,500,000 1,411,780,000 5,314

USA 3,989,566 328,200,000 12,154

INDIA 1,547,000 1,384,660,000 935

Above is a comparison of 3 countries' power consumption and power consumption per

capita. It is evident from the comparison that India's per capita energy consumption is
13 times less than that of the United States. This demonstrates the need for India to
increase its electrical energy production, but due to its enormous population and
limitations on nonrenewable energy sources, a long-term solution with a large potential
must be adopted. Solar Energy can be a good alternative solution to the current energy
scarcity due to several reasons, Firstly Solar Energy being the most abundant source of
energy and energy emitted by sun is at Rate of 3.8x 10 23 KW and the energy intercepted
by Earth is approximately 1.8 x 1014 KW [3]. Even converting just 5% of this available
solar energy can be 50 times more than what world requires [4].

Studies revealed that energy demand globally can be satisfied by using solar energy
satisfactorily because of its abundance and free availability with no cost [5]. The figure
1 shows amount of solar intensity falling at various places across the globe and it can

11
be concluded that Asian countries have highest potential to receive solar radiation
compared to other temperate countries as sunshine duration in such countries is high in
a year [6]. India has a potential of approximately 5.5 kWh/m2 (19.8 MJ/m2) per day,
which is quite a high amount and also it has an average of 250-300 clear sunny days
[7]. About 2300-3100 hours of sunshine in a year [8]. Kumar A and Kumar [7]
suggested that theoretically the need of energy in India can be fulfilled by utilization of
total area of about 3000 km2 which is just 0.1% of India’s total land.

Figure 1 Solar intensity across various region of the world in kWh/m²

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 Figure 2: Solar intensity across various regions of India in kWh/m2.
1.2 Drying:

Drying is the process of removing moisture from any substance up to a permissible

limit [3]. Drying can be done using simple methods such as the open sun drying, modern
methods like vacuum drying, infrared drying can be also utilized for drying.

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1.2.1 Types of drying methods:

1.2.1.1 Open sun drying:

It is basically drying in open sunlight; it is natural and one of the oldest methods of
drying. When direct sunlight falls on the Crops by radiative heat transfer the
temperature of crops increase and rate of evaporation of water from the crops increase
and consequently crops dry.

Advantage of open drying:

1)Very simple technique

2)Negligible Initial and operating costs

Disadvantages of open drying:

1) Direct sunlight degrades taste, color and smell of the crops.

1.2.1.2 Closed solar drying

In closed solar drying, fruits are placed within a glass box that has 2 openings each of
cold air inlet and hot air exit. Some part of the radiation incident on the glass plate is
reflected back to the surroundings, rest of the solar radiation is transmitted back to
the chamber. The Incoming solar energy (Irradiation) from the sun passes through
clear glass covers and is absorbed by the bottom surface. So due to this solar energy
is trapped and this increases the temperature of lower inner surface of the box. It
heats the air in the box which thereby reduces its density so the hot lighter air rises in
the upward direction and thereby evaporating water from the food.

1.2.1.3 Solar evaporation in a sealed chamber

In closed solar drying, fruits are positioned inside a glass box with two openings for
cold air intake and hot air exhaust. A portion of the radiation that strikes the glass plate
is reflected back into the environment, while the remaining solar radiation is transmitted
back into the chamber. The incoming solar energy (Irradiation) is absorbed by the
bottom surface after passing through clear glass covers. As a result, solar energy is
captured and the lower inner surface of the box becomes warmer. It heats the air in the
box, reducing its density so that the hot, lighter air rises in the upward direction,
evaporating moisture from the food.
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1.2.1.4 Solar desiccant drying

Desiccant-based drying is a different approach to drying compared to the above-

mentioned methods. When moist air with a high-water vapor content is passed through
a desiccant material such as silica gel or alumina, the air is trapped within the pores,
which reduces the water vapor content and dries the food in the container. Due to high-
intensity solar radiation, the primary disadvantage of direct solar methods is that food
tends to lose flavor and color, whereas desiccant drying preserves both.

The basic drawback of direct solar methods is that the Food tends to degrade in taste as
well as the colors get dull due to high-intensity solar radiation, alternatively in desiccant
drying Low- temperature drying is the prime advantage over other methods [9]. Low
temperature drying in general is the best atmosphere suited for drying and this is
achieved in desiccant based drying system making this system more attractive for better
performance of drying.

Figure 3 Application of desiccant drying

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 Chapter 2: Literature review
2.1 Desiccant System
The desiccant system is a well-established method for dehumidifying an airstream.
These systems are typically employed as a component of an air-conditioning system
that regulates temperature and humidity for indoor air quality, and as a dehumidification
or drying device for industrial or commercial activities. This article focuses on the
desiccant system for dehumidification or the drying apparatus.
Adsorption (solid desiccant) and absorption are the two most prevalent techniques for
removing water vapor from gas or air (liquid desiccant such as lithium chloride). Solid
desiccants have additional advantages compared to liquid desiccants. These benefits
include a lower recovery temperature, greater operating flexibility, simpler transfer, and
less corrosion. In addition, they are more compact and less corrosive [1]. Liquid
desiccants, such as lithium chloride and lithium bromide, are corrosive and can destroy
the desiccant system. Any liquid desiccant that enters the supply air stream might be
extremely hazardous to the health of the occupants. In addition, liquid desiccants are
more susceptible to situations that can acidify them, because foaming, or precipitate
them into solid salts [2]. This analysis is therefore limited to the adsorption process
through solid desiccant material.

2.2 Principle of desiccant system

The solid desiccant system operates on the adsorption principle. Adsorption &
absorption is an interaction between the sorbent and sorbate molecules through
intermolecular interaction. Since the desiccant materials initially have a low water
vapor concentration, the air moisture content is attracted to the desiccant materials'
surface due to the moisture vapor pressure difference between the air and the desiccant
surface. This vapor pressure difference forces the air moisture content to adsorb on the
desiccant surface [3]. By releasing the heat of adsorption, desiccant materials raise the
ambient air temperature. The adsorption procedure continues until equilibrium is
reached with the surrounding air. To continue using the system, it is necessary to
eliminate moisture from desiccant materials using heat energy. Air regeneration
provides this thermal energy. In order to dehumidify air for an extended period of time,
the desiccant framework utilizes two types of air streams.
Desiccant dryers dehumidify moist air by passing it through a desiccant system. This
humid air is known as process air. It can be entirely open-air or a combination of open
air and recycled air. The process air is dehumidified following its passage through the
desiccant system. The highly hygroscopic desiccant material absorbs moisture from the
process air to generate dry air, which is then heated or supplied directly to the drying
space or enclosed storage unit. The warm and dry process air removes moisture from
the product, and through a closed-loop system, the returning wet cooled air is recycled
back to the dryer along with some fresh air for further drying and use.
Typically, the desiccant system is utilized for an extended period of time. In order to
continue the adsorption process, the material is routinely passed through a stream of hot
gas or air to remove adsorbed moisture. A regenerative air stream is a stream of high-
16
temperature air used to reactivate the desiccant system. The purpose of dehumidifying
the desiccant is to make it available for the subsequent adsorption period, thereby
ensuring cyclical operation. The regeneration is accomplished using hot air from a
variety of sources, including solar energy, natural gas, waste heat from an internal
combustion engine (regenerative heating), and geothermal energy

Figure 4 Schematic diagram of desiccant drying

2.3 Selection of desiccant system:

While selecting the desiccant system, the desiccant material must be determined. All
substances that attract moisture to varying degrees are known as desiccant materials.
When moist air, such as process air, passes through a desiccant system, the water vapor
within the process air is adsorbed by desiccant materials due to the difference in water
vapor partial pressure between the process air and solid desiccant materials. The
commercial desiccant material absorbs moisture until it reaches equilibrium with the
surrounding air, and some even absorb/absorb more moisture than the air itself. This
absorption capacity varies depending on the desiccant material. It can retain 10% to
1100% of its weight in water [4]. Additionally, different materials have varying
capacities for regeneration. Consequently, the performance of the desiccant system is
highly dependent on the material employed. The fundamental principle for selecting
suitable desiccant materials is their ability to retain a large amount of saturated
adsorption and to be easily reactivated. There are numerous desiccant materials
available on the market. Silica gel, activated charcoal, zeolite, activated alumina,
molecular sieves, composite material, and SPM are the most frequently used desiccant
materials. Some of these are listed in Table 2.2.1 below. This table displays the
fundamental properties of various materials. It will be useful to consider initially when
choosing the desiccant material. After choosing a desiccant material based on its
benefits and drawbacks, it is necessary to examine its process parameters in depth.

17
 Table 2: Basic comparison of desiccant materials [5]

Desiccant material Basic characteristic Advantages Shortcomings

Ability to absorb 40% of its More regeneration Low adsorption at
weight in moisture Fast adsorption rate low RH
Silica gel Efficient up to 38 °C but can Non-corrosive Rapid degradation to
absorb moisture up to 104 °C powder
Average cost
Absorbent material Higher adsorption capacity Smallest optimum
Bentonite clay Absorbent up to 49 °C Low cost temperature ranges
Most effective at 25 °C up to 49 °C
High surface area More regeneration Low adsorption at
Highly porous Fast adsorption rate low RH
Stable Low cost
Activated alumina
Restore its adsorption
efficiency by heating from
177° to 316 °C
Extremely effective Regenerated by heating it to Regeneration
Useful in cryogenic operations an optimal temperature temperature around
More effective silica gel or from 130 °C to 250 °C 316 °C
activated alumina because of High desiccant capability Average cost
Molecular sieves
their crystalline composition Adsorbs water until water's
Very low dew points weight is 30% that of its
own weight
Fast adsorption

Table 3: Adsorption capacities and other parameters of some adsorbents for

dehumidification [6]:

Adsorbent Silica Adsorbent temperature, Adsorption capacity g- Regeneration

RH H2O/g-sorb temperature (°C)

Silica 80-150

Silica gel [7] 27 °C, 60% 0.08–0.36 70

27 °C, 7% 0.02–0.05 70
Silica gel [8] 30–40 °C, 60% 0.34 70–80
Zeolite 250-350
Zeolite Y 27 °C, 60% 0.02–0.30
(Si/Al=5.6–220) [7] 27 °C, 7% 0–0.25
Zeolite A [9] 25 °C, 80% 0.25 ----
Activated carbon (AC)

18
AC Y-60 [7] 27 °C, 60% 0.18–0.29 70
27 °C, 7% 0–0.4
ACs [10] 25 °C, 60% 0.25–0.50 ----
Composites
Silica gel/AC/CaCl2 27 °C, 9% 0.23 ----
[11]

2.3.1. Silica Gel

Silicon dioxide is derived from sodium silicate and sulfuric acid to form silica gel. It is
non-corrosive and non-toxic. It is the most commonly used desiccant. Porous silica gel
with regular density (RD) has a pore size of 2 nm and a pore volume of 0.3–0.4 cm3/g.
It has a large pore area per unit volume and can theoretically retain up to 40 percent of
its weight in water vapor. In actuality, 0.15 g of adsorbate per gram of dry adsorbent is
a more accurate value. Due to its favorable adsorption isotherm over a broad range of
relative humidity levels, it has been widely utilized in the desiccant system [12]. It is
also not resistant to heat and deteriorates rapidly. Regeneration of silica gel requires
temperatures between 700 and 150 degrees Celsius. Due to its weak physisorptive
nature, the adsorption capacity of silica gel decreases with an increase in adsorption
temperature. It is not susceptible to structural damage under mild regeneration
conditions, but at high regeneration temperatures, surface silanol groups for moisture
absorption are lost. Although silica gel has a high moisture-absorption capacity, its dust
particles are carcinogenic, rendering it unsuitable for direct food processing [13].

2.3.2. Zeolite
In the form of granular extrudates, zeolite is a synthetic material derived from sodium
or calcium crystalline alumina-silicates.

2.3.3 Molecular sieve and Submicron Particulate Matter

A molecular sieve is a material with uniformly sized pores. Because the diameter of the
pores is comparable to that of small molecules, large molecules cannot enter while
smaller molecules can.

2.4.4 Activated Carbon

Adsorption is a commercial application of activated carbon. Activated carbon (AC),
also known as activated charcoal, is a type of carbon that has been processed to have
very high surface areas and large pore volumes due to its porous structure

2.5.5. Composite Material

Utilizing composite desiccant materials has increased dehumidification capacity. A
wide variety of host matrices, such as microporous or mesoporous silica gels, alumina,

19
porous carbons, or polymers with inorganic salts such as LiBr, CaCl2, MgCl2, or LiCl,
alter the sorbent properties.

2.4 Selection of desiccant drying system:

2.4.1. Desiccant Wheel
A rotary desiccant wheel is a cylindrical rotary wheel made by rolling the desiccant-
coated corrugated porous fiber sheet. It can be manufactured in a variety of channel
configurations, including sinusoidal [26], honeycomb [28], square, circular, and
triangular [29], and hexagonal [30]. When moist air, such as process air, passes through
a desiccant wheel, the water vapors within the process air is adsorbed by desiccant
materials due to the difference in water vapor partial pressure between the process air
and solid desiccant materials. After dehumidification, the water is sent directly to the
drying space, enclosed storage unit, or terminal for additional treatment.
In the meantime, process air temperature rises due to the release of adsorption heat. The
desiccant wheel is routinely passed through a stream of hot gas or air to remove
adsorbed moisture in order to continue the adsorption process. A regenerative air stream
is a stream of high-temperature air used to reactivate the desiccant system. The purpose
of dehumidifying the desiccant is to make it available for the subsequent adsorption
period, thereby ensuring cyclical operation. The supply and regeneration air sides are
separated by clapboard. The simultaneous adsorption and desorption by the desiccant
wheel give it an advantage over a system with a fixed bed. Numerous studies have been
conducted on desiccant wheel dehumidification and air conditioning systems due to
their benefits. In this review paper, various desiccant materials, parametric analyses,
and heat sources are used to illustrate these studies. A study described the role of the
substrate in enhancing the rotary desiccant wheel dehumidification system [42].
Typically, porous ceramic fiber paper and glass fiber paper are employed as substrate
materials. Desiccant materials are supported by the substrate, which also influences the
heat and mass transfer process and coating rate. Others have expanded the process
region to increase the volume of dry air [43]. Rotary desiccant wheels are preferred
over fixed bed types because they can operate continuously without altering the
adsorption and desorption cycles [44].

20
 Figure 5 Schematic diagram of desiccant wheel

2.5 Parameters of desiccant wheel

The capacity of desiccant wheels to remove moisture is generally evaluated as change
in moisture content in process air (∆ω, defined as humidity ratio change of process air)
if humidity ratio change is more than it has ability to absorb more moisture, moisture
removal capacity (MRC, defined as ∆ω multiplied by the mass flow rate of process air),
dehumidification efficiency (ɛ, defined as ∆ω divided by inlet humidity ratio of process
air). Some other parameters of desiccant wheel include Relative humidity (RH), outlet
& inlet temperature of process & regeneration air, and time taken for drying is also
considered for parametric studies.

2.6 Heat source for regeneration

Regeneration is the process of evaporating the desiccant wheel's moisture content so
that it can once again absorb moisture from the process air. Depending upon the
desiccant material selected, regeneration air must be supplied at a higher temperature.
Conventional sources of heat can be used, but they can be costly, whereas waste heat
from power plants or other sources can be a good alternative because it is a low-grade
energy source that reduces thermal pollution; however, waste heat typically contains a
great deal of impurities, which shortens the lifespan of the desiccant system. Renewable
energy-powered desiccant systems can be a fantastic solution. Solar-powered
regeneration is showing promising results, but initial costs can be high. After the
payback period, however, it is the most cost-effective source.

21
 Table 4: shows the parametric study done by different researchers. The primary
material used here is silica gel

References Study conclusion Desiccant Desiccant Regeneration Type of

specification material source work

[59] Total SEC (MJ/kg H2O) ranges from Rotary Desiccant Silica gel Hot air system Experimental
29.1 to 35.6. MR (g) from the product is wheel. Bangkok,
from 678g to 820g. Drying coconut at a Thailand
temperature of 60 ◦C consumed slightly
more energy than at 50 ◦C.
[51] HR of PA ranges from 6.97 g/kg to DCCCCD Silica gel ------------- Experimental
14.9 g/kg. The performance of the with plate-fin &mathematic
CCCD with a cooling effect is better heat exchanger al model.
than without cooling. Efficiency43.3%. Beijing,
The efficiency of a DCCCCD is higher. China

[47] 1. If outdoor HR (fixed)- DW is Silica gel Thermal energy Experimental

adsorption increases with an increase in coupled to an from micro Torino, Italy
Treg. electric chiller, cogenerator
2. Treg (fixed) -higher the water boiler, and Treg—65 ◦C
vapour content in outdoor air, higher is small scale
adsorption. cogenerator.
[60] Effectiveness parameters have been Various Various Various Based on
used to predict the performance of DW. published
Specific enthalpy and adsorbed water experimental
content are used as independent data of other
parameters to calculate effectiveness. Researchers.
[61] Paper presents energy performance DW. Silica-gel FPC + heat Experimental
indicators for five summer months and D =700 mm, rejected by the Palermo,
three winter months between July 2008 W =200 mm chiller Italy&
and January 2010 are speed: 15 rev/h Tmax = 68◦C Simulation

2.6.1 Solar energy Collectors:

2.6.1.1 Flat-plate collector (FPC)

It basically works on simple principle of solar energy trapping, the flat plate collectors
form the heat of any solar energy collection system designed for operation in the low
temperature range, from ambient to 60 or the medium temperature, form ambient to
100. A well-engineered flat plate collector is delivers heat at a relatively low cost for a
long duration. The flat plat collectors is basically a heat exchanger which transfer the
radiant energy of the incident sunlight to the sensible heat of a working fluid-liquid or
air.

22
2.6.1.2 Evacuated Tube Collector (ETC)
The new technology, developed in the construction of solar collectors, using the
benefits provided by vacuum insulation, is known as evacuated tube collector. This type
of solar collector is typically more effective at higher temperatures than flat-plate
collectors. The inner pipe is approximately 150 °C, whereas the outer tube is cold to the
touch. This indicates that heated solar collectors can perform well in cold weather,
whereas flat-plate collectors perform poorly due to heat loss. In the collector tubes,
sunlight penetrates the outer glass tube and strikes a dip where it is converted to heat.
The absorber transfers heat to a liquid that flows through it. To form a vacuum, the two
tubes are joined together at the top and the existing air is expelled. Thus, heat is retained
within the pipes, and the sun's rays are efficiently collected. ETSCs can collect both
diffused and direct radiation. In addition to their superior thermal performance, ETSCs
are simple to install and navigate.

Figure 6 Schematic diagram of ETC

23
 Table 5: shows various methods of regeneration used various applications with their
key features

Work carried out Type of Method of Key Points Temperature of References

regeneration
desiccant regeneration
used used
Experimentally Rotary Evacuated tube Efficiency of ETC is 55-75 C [27]
investigated the desiccant collector above 0.6
performance of a wheel at all the
desiccant powered operating
by Evacuated tube temperature.
collectors Overall efficiency
of solar
installation is
0.55
Solar assisted Rotary Evacuated tube Drying time in [28]
solid wasdesiccant desiccant collector the first, second,
designed and wheel and third columns
system was of the solar dryer is
performance decreased
investigated. approximately by
64%, 44%, and
33%, respectively,
compared with
open sun drying
Comparison of Silica gel, Evacuated tube For air flow rates of 58.3-68.3 C [29]
various solid activated collector 88 kg/h and
desiccants for charcoal, 138 kg/h,
regeneration by Activated maximum and
ETC alumina minimum
regeneration rates
of various
desiccants were
specified.
Activated charcoal
had the lowest
maximum
regeneration rate

24
 Chapter 3: Experimental investigation for the optimum RPH of
Desiccant Wheel
The desiccant wheel's performance depends upon the rotational speed of the wheel. The
dehumidification capacity of the wheel decreases when the speed of the wheel is either
very high or very low from an optimized speed.

Therefore, before any further analysis of the optimized rotational speed has been
obtained experimentally. The desiccant wheel is connected with the evacuated tube
collector which gives hot air to the regeneration side for the regeneration of the
desiccant wheel. Ambient air gets dehumidified in the process sector.

RTD PT-100 thermocouple is used to measure hot air temperature and high-temperature
hygro- thermometers give the humidity ratio and temperature at the exit of both the
process side and regeneration side. The ambient condition is measured with the help of
a handheld hygro- thermometer as is it works well below 60° Celsius. The experiment
has been carried out from the morning at 9 am to the evening at 6 pm and the data have
been recorded at an interval of 30 minutes.

The experiments have been carried out at seven different rotational speeds and the
tables given below show the data measured at different speeds. Table 5, Table 6, Table
7, Table 8, Table 9, Table 10, and table 11 show the data for 5 RPH, 10 RPH, 15 RPH,
20 RPH, 25 RPH, 30 RPH and 35 RPH respectively.

The data for the regeneration side and adsorption side have been recorded from 9:00
a.m. to 6 p.m. for each revolution speed. The amount of adsorption and regeneration
both are less in the morning and gradually increase to the maximum in the afternoon as
the solar intensity and regeneration temperature increase and reach the maximum in the
afternoon and start decreasing after the afternoon as the solar intensity starts decreasing
for each RPH the optimization factor has been calculated which is the ratio of average
adsorption of moisture to the average regeneration temperature. The largest value of the
optimization factor gives the best RPH which is discussed in the results.

25
CHAPTER 4: USE OF DRYING IN BANANAS

4.1 Why drying process of banana is necessary?

Bananas are highly perishable due to their high moisture content and therefore very
susceptible to postharvest losses during handling, transportation, and storage. Thus, it
is of great importance to use an appropriate process method to reduce the losses, The
drying process is one of the alternative ways to preserve food quality and increase its
value. The objective is the removal of water to a level which prevents deterioration.
The major motives are an extension of shelf life and reduction in volume. Drying
process of banana is a process involving simultaneous heat and mass transfer. During
the banana drying process, moisture in bananas diffuses from the internal to the surface
and evaporates into the air streams meanwhile, heat is transferred from the air to
bananas. When moisture is removed, the volume of bananas decreases

The increasing cost of fossil fuels affects the costs of various production processes and
encourages the use of renewable energy to reduce fuel costs. Among all renewable
energy sources, solar energy is unique due to its enormous amount of energy, low cost
and high potential [30]. Sun drying is the traditional way of reducing the moisture
content in fruit and other products and is still popular in developing countries [31].
Drying was an important step in the postharvest process and is one of the oldest
techniques for preserving agricultural products [32]. Although open sun drying is a
simple and effective method, much of the heat generated from solar energy is wasted
to the environment, resulting in a low drying efficiency [33]. Furthermore, open sun
drying is limited for agricultural products because during exposure to sunlight, the
product may be infested by insects and animals, contaminated by dust or damaged by
rain resulting in mold. For these reasons, the development of solar dryers has an
important role in drying agricultural products.

Banana is one of the important tropical fruits in the world being climacteric fruit with
a soft texture so that it deteriorates at high temperature and relative humidity due to the
initial high moisture content in the fruit. Dried banana is a popular food in many
countries. Normally banana drying is carried out using open sun drying. Therefore,
banana was selected as the sample product in the drying experiments.

34
In this chapter we will be applying the desiccant drying technology to food application
and will try to compare its performance with the current used technologies of drying.
Natural Drying of bananas include Direct sun drying and shade drying and most of
banana drying across the country is done by these techniques, this technique is the
cheapest method for banana drying but Drying time is around 1-2 days, also insect
attack and dust causes deterioration of banana quality.

Also, some advanced drying vacuum drying, Microwave drying are used which gives
better control over quality of bananas and better taste and color, but these technologies
are quite expensive and for small scale it is irrelevant to use it. Desiccant drying method
can help improving quality of bananas as compared to open sun drying and improves
the drying time and with better control of temperature of drying this Drying method
usually give better quality as open drying because banana is not exposed by direct
sunlight and even temperature is low with low Humidity ratio.

4.2 Drying characteristics:

a) Drying rate:

It is the mass of water removed per unit time. It shows how fast the drying process is.

b) Drying time:

The time required to achieve a desired state of dryness.

c) Dehydration ratio:

Dehydration ratio= weight of raw material/Weight of dehydrated material

d) Physiological loss in weight:

PLW= Initial weight- Final Weight/Initial weight *100

Banana drying:
1. Initial Moisture content: 70-80%

2. Final Moisture content: 7-15%

3. Maximum Temperature: 70 °C

35
4.3 banana drying parameters:

1) Physical parameters:

• Average Length
• Surface area (cm2)
• Skin Thickness
• Color and Texture
• Bulk Density

2) Chemical parameter:

• Sugar Content
• pH
• Brix Value
• Tartaric acid content
• Moisture content

36
CHAPTER 5: EXPIREMENTAL SETUP

5.1 Components:

5.1.1 Evacuated Tube Collector:

It is used for solar heat collection for Air Heating from ambient
temperature to higher temperatures. It has 50 evacuated tubes and the
evacuated tube has 2 coaxial tubes, namely glass and absorber tube. The
length, outer diameters of the glass and absorber tube is 1800 mm, 58mm
and 47 mm respectively. It has total Collector Area of 8.46 m2.

Figure 8: Evacuated Tube Collector

5.1.2 Desiccant wheel:

It is used to remove moisture from the space by physical adsorption and

makes the air flowing through wheel dry, it has a Wheel diameter of 65
cm which rotates at speed ranging from 10- 40 RPH.

37
 Figure 9: Desiccant wheel with ducting

5.1.3 Dryer
It is used for drying the bananas, it has various sections like shown in
figure B where banana will be placed and Hot and dry air will be
entering the dryer which helps in removing moisture from the bananas,
the air is circulated through all sections of dryer, thereby drying bananas
kept on each section and is removed from the top to the atmosphere.

Figure 10: Dryer which Stores Banana and it dries the bananas by hot and dry Air

38
5.2 Experimental setup schematic:

Figure 11: Schematic diagram of experiment setup for banana drying

5.3 Working principle of setup:

The ambient air which is Humid is sucked by the blower and is directed
towards Process sector of Desiccant wheel which adsorbs the moisture
from ambient air and makes it dry but also temperature is raised, this air is
referred as Process air.
The ETC heats the ambient air to a fairly high temperature ranging
between 65-110 C on a normal sunny day this hot air is blown in
Regeneration sector of desiccant wheel, this air is called Regeneration air
(at inlet), the outlet of regeneration sector is humid air due to absorption of
moisture from the wheel, this is thrown to atmosphere.
This process air is always at a fairly high temperature ranging between 45-
58 C and very low RH ranging from 3-12 %. This process air will be
suitable banana drying.

39
5.4 Air Flow Through the Setup:
• Regeneration Air (inlet):
It is the hot air Regenerating the Desiccant wheel

• Ambient Air:
It is the Atmospheric air which is blowing to Desiccant inlet for drying by
Desiccant wheel

• Process Air:
It is the Hot and Dried Air at the desiccant wheel outlet which is
passed for drying.

• Dry Outlet air:

It is the outlet Air from the dryer which picks up little moisture from the banana
and will be at higher humidity.

• Regeneration Air (outlet):

It is the Outlet air from Desiccant Wheel which is at high moisture content
because it picks moisture from desiccant wheel for regenerating it.

5.5 Measuring Instruments:

Different parameters measured in these experiments are:
• Air temperature and relative humidity
• Solar intensity
• Air flow rate

40
These parameters are measured by the following devices as given in table

Table 6: measuring devices specifications

Sr. No. Measurement Sensors Operational range

1 Air Relative Humidity Hygrometer 0 to 100%

(RH) and temperature
-10°C to 60ºC

2 Air flow rate Anemometer 0 to 45 m/s

3 Solar intensity Pyranometer 0 to 2000 W/m2

41
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