Drying of Palm Oil Fronds in Solar Dryer with Finned Double-Pass Solar Collectors

Abstract

Solar drying system is very environment friendly and will enhance energy conservation. However, one of the main disadvantages of solar energy system is the problem associated with the intermittent nature of solar radiation and the low intensities of solar radiation in solar thermal systems. Many design of using solar systems for drying of agricultural products. A solar dryer system suitable for agricultural products have been designed, constructed and evaluated under the Malaysia climate conditions. The main components of the system are double-pass solar collector with finned absorber, the blower, the auxiliary heater and the drying chamber. The solar drying system has been evaluated for drying the oil palm fronds. For 100 kg palm oil fronds, the drying time is about of 3 drying day in sunny day (without heater) from an initial moisture content of 60% to the final moisture content of 10% (wb). A temperature of 55 o C can be reached at a solar radiation level of 650 W/m 2 , and mass flow rate of 0.13 kg/s, the overall system efficiency is about 20%.