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Accelerating drying process of tomato slices in a PV-assisted solar dryer using a sun tracking system

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  • Samimi-Akhijahani, Hadi
  • Arabhosseini, Akbar

Abstract

This study was aimed to examine the effect of sun tracking system on the solar drying kinetics of biological materials. A lab-scale PV-assisted solar drying system equipped with a sun tracking unit was designed and fabricated to study the drying behavior of tomato slices during the drying process. The samples were tested at different air velocities (0.5–2 m/s) and product thicknesses (3–7 mm) with and without application of sun tracking system. The effect of sun tracking system on the drying behavior of tomato slices was evaluated by considering the drying time, effective moisture diffusivity and activation energy. According to the results obtained, the sun tracking system profoundly shortened the drying time about 16.6% to 36.6%. Application of the system substantially increased the effective moisture diffusivity in the ranges of 9.1–64.6% and the activation energy without any negative effect on the quality parameters of dried samples, i.e., color, rehydration ratio, and shrinkage. Overall, the sun tracking system could be a promising approach not only for accelerating solar drying process but also for propelling this drying technology one step further towards the industrial applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Samimi-Akhijahani, Hadi & Arabhosseini, Akbar, 2018. "Accelerating drying process of tomato slices in a PV-assisted solar dryer using a sun tracking system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 428-438.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:123:y:2018:i:c:p:428-438
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.056
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    2. Mirzaei, Saeid & Ameri, Mehran & Ziaforoughi, Amin, 2021. "Energy-exergy analysis of an infrared dryer equipped with a photovoltaic-thermal collector in glazed and unglazed modes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 541-556.
    3. Das, Mehmet & Akpinar, Ebru Kavak, 2021. "Investigation of the effects of solar tracking system on performance of the solar air dryer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 907-916.
    4. Nabil Eldesokey Mansour & Edwin Villagran & Jader Rodriguez & Mohammad Akrami & Jorge Flores-Velazquez & Khaled A. Metwally & M. Alhumedi & Atef Fathy Ahmed & Abdallah Elshawadfy Elwakeel, 2025. "Effect of Drying Conditions on Kinetics, Modeling, and Thermodynamic Behavior of Marjoram Leaves in an IoT-Controlled Vacuum Dryer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-33, June.
    5. Arabhosseini, Akbar & Samimi-Akhijahani, Hadi & Motahayyer, Mehrnosh, 2019. "Increasing the energy and exergy efficiencies of a collector using porous and recycling system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 308-325.
    6. Rashidi, Milad & Arabhosseini, Akbar & Samimi-Akhijahani, Hadi & Kermani, Ali M., 2021. "Acceleration the drying process of oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) using reflectors and desiccant system in a solar drying system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 526-541.
    7. Kuan, M. & Shakir, Ye. & Mohanraj, M. & Belyayev, Ye. & Jayaraj, S. & Kaltayev, A., 2019. "Numerical simulation of a heat pump assisted solar dryer for continental climates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 214-225.
    8. Saini, Raj Kumar & Saini, Devender Kumar & Gupta, Rajeev & Verma, Piush & Thakur, Robin & Kumar, Sushil & wassouf, Ali, 2023. "Technological development in solar dryers from 2016 to 2021-A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    9. ElGamal, Ramadan & Kishk, Sameh & Al-Rejaie, Salim & ElMasry, Gamal, 2021. "Incorporation of a solar tracking system for enhancing the performance of solar air heaters in drying apple slices," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 676-684.

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