%J Renewable Energy
%L scholars9295
%O cited By 42
%R 10.1016/j.renene.2016.12.099
%D 2017
%X This article presents a study on the performance of a forced convective multi-pass solar air heating collector (MPSAHC) system assisted with granite as a sensible energy storing matrix. Experimental drying of Roselle was carried out in August 2015 at Solar Energy Research Site of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia (4.385693° N and 100.979203 S). The present investigation was conducted under the daily average relative humidity, solar irradiance, ambient temperature and wind speed of 64.5, 635.49 Wm�2, 32.24 °C, and 0.81 ms�1, respectively. An average drying rate of 33.57 g (kg m2 h)�1 was achieved while the system optical efficiency, collector efficiency, drying efficiency and moisture pickup efficiency of 70.53, 64.08, 36.22 and 66.95 were obtained, respectively. MPSAHC dryer was 21 h faster with fair color retention when compared to open sun drying approach (OSDA) that was conducted together under the same weather condition. Techno economic analysis reflected a payback period of 2.14 years. However, drying efficiency could be improved if the inlet air humidity can be controlled to favor drying operation. © 2016
%K Drying; Economic analysis; Hemp; Humidity control; Investments; Solar energy; Wind, Medicinal herb; Multi-pass; Payback periods; Performance; Roselle, Collector efficiency, economic analysis; energy efficiency; heating; herb; performance assessment; renewable resource; solar power; thermal power; wind velocity, Hibiscus sabdariffa
%P 281-292
%V 113
%I Elsevier Ltd
%A M.W. Kareem
%A K. Habib
%A M.H. Ruslan
%A B.B. Saha
%T Thermal performance study of a multi-pass solar air heating collector system for drying of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)