Mathematical modelling of drying kinetics, economic and environmental analysis of natural convection mix-mode solar and sun drying of pre-treated potato slices

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the influence of the sun and mix-mode solar drying of blanched potato slices on drying kinetics and moisture loss rate and to conduct environmental and economic analysis of the solar drying of the potato slice. Hence a mix-mode solar dryer was assembled and deployed with traditional sun drying to dry the pre-treated potato slice. Using solar dryer reduced the traditional sun drying time to 6–12 h at a maximum collector efficiency of 34%. The moisture loss rate varied from 0 to 9.11 × 10^–5 kg/s. The Allometric power function was the best fitting for the drying curve. The net CO₂ mitigation potentials were determined as 12.42 tonnes of CO₂ per year with an embodied energy and energy payback time of 353.97 kWh and 0.44 years respectively. The payback period of the dryer is 0.2552 years which is about 2 months and 21 days.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar drying
• potato slices
• environmental sustainability
• renewable energy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors Ndukwu and Onyenwigwe wish to acknowledge the support of the National Research Fund (NRF) under Educational Trust Fund (ETF), Abuja (Grant number EIT/03/18).