Performance Enhancement of PVT-Porous Dryer under Humid Tropical Conditions
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Abstract
Drying remains one of the most energy-intensive processes in agriculture and food industries, accounting for significant energy costs and often compromising product quality under humid tropical conditions. This research investigates a photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) porous dryer designed to enhance drying efficiency and energy performance for kaffir lime leaves. The system integrates a 150 W photovoltaic panel with a double-pass solar collector and porous materials onto the absorber of three porosities (0.96, 0.97, and 0.98). Experiments were conducted under tropical conditions, with measurements of temperature distribution, moisture ratio (MR), drying rate (DR), and specific energy consumption (SEC). Data analysis employed two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD tests to evaluate statistical significance. Results indicated that drying occurred predominantly in the falling-rate period governed by internal diffusion. The incorporation of porous absorbers improved drying kinetics, reducing MR by 20–32% and increasing DR by 45–50% compared to the situation without porous material. Energy analysis revealed a 30–34% reduction in SEC, with the lowest value of 20.22 MJ/kg achieved at 0.96 porosity, corresponding to a 33.3% improvement. Statistical validation confirmed significant effects of airflow velocity (p < 0.05) and porosity (p < 0.01), identifying 0.96 as the optimal balance between air resistance and thermal contact. In conclusion, the PVT-porous dryer demonstrates strong potential as a sustainable and energy-efficient drying technology for herbal and agricultural products. Its ability to enhance drying rates while lowering energy consumption makes it particularly suitable for tropical regions where solar energy is abundant yet variable.
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