Abstract—In this paper, the effect of using energy storage material in an indirect-mode forced convection solar dryer is experimentally studied under Tanta (latitude, 300 47' N) prevailing weather conditions. The system consists of a double pass v-corrugated plate solar air heater connected to a drying chamber. A blower is used to force the heated air to the drying chamber. To study the effect of using an energy storage material on the performance of the indirect-mode forced convection solar dryer, 56 kg of sand is used as a storage material under the back plate of the solar air heater. Drying experiments have been performed for grapes with and without using energy storage material. It is found that the drying time of 1 kg of grapes is reduced by about 3 hrs or more when using a storage material.

Index Terms—Solar drying; thermal performance, energy storage material.

Cite: S. M. Shalaby, "Effect of Using Energy Storage Material in an Indirect-mode Forced Convection Solar Dryer on the Drying Characteristics of Grapes", Journal of Medical and Bioengineering vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 56-58, 2012. doi: 10.12720/jomb.1.1.56-58