Simulation and Validation of Vanilla Drying Process in an Indirect Solar Dryer Prototype Using CFD Fluent Program

Abstract

This paper presents the results of simulation and validation of vanilla drying process in an indirect solar dryer prototype for 50 kg capacity designed and constructed at Universidad del Caribe in Cancún, México. This work arises from the necessity of the vanilla agriculturists from the State of Quintana Roo to have a solar dryer capable of preserving the properties of the vanilla obtained with the traditional drying method. In previous work, simulation results are presented which showed only changes of airflow properties through the solar dryer prototype without vanilla. In this study, also are presented results from the drying tests for the vanilla pods.