%0 Journal Article
%@ 17433541
%A Yassen, T.A.
%A Al-Kayiem, H.H.
%A Habib, K.
%D 2013
%F scholars:3870
%I WITPress
%J WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment
%K burning; design; equipment; operations technology; performance assessment; solar power; temperature profile
%P 921-931
%R 10.2495/SC130782
%T Design and performance investigation of a thermal back-up system for hybrid drying
%U https://khub.utp.edu.my/scholars/3870/
%V 179 VO
%X A major setback in the solar drying technique is the lack of solar energy during cloudy and rainy days as well as during the night. Thus, the hybrid solar - thermal drying techniques are feasible as a practical solution. This paper presents the design, fabrication, and test of a thermal back-up unit comprising a burner and a gas to gas heat exchanger. The test was accomplished with a feeding rate of 0.426 and 0.271 kg/hr of coal. Results have shown that the temperature of the supplied hot air at the feeding rate of 0.426 kg/hr, was higher than the ambient temperature by 60°C maximum, while it is 40°C maximum with feeding rate of 0.271 kg/hr. The decrease in the feeding rate of coal leads to a stable hot air temperature for a long time of burning. The present thermal back-up unit is feasible for providing hot air suitable for the drying of any type of agriculture, forest, and food products. The advantage of using such a system is important in the rural areas, where it operates and performs hybrid drying, free of electricity. © 2013 WIT Press.
%Z cited By 2