Progressive review of solar drying studies of agricultural products with exergoeconomics and econo-market participation aspect

Abstract

An analysis of review articles on solar drying of agricultural products is presented. The review also discusses detailed economic evaluation methods and market participation approaches for transitioning solar dryers from the workshop to the market. This study aims to serve as a model for future solar drying reviews. In addition to broad perspective reviews, most reviews focused on using thermal storage, hybrid technologies, solar greenhouses, 4E evaluations, software applications and crop quality. From most of the reviews, solar dryers with thermal storage are now a viable substitute for fossil energy source dryers and can provide the continuous temperature range of 40–60 °C required to dry food crops. When phase change material is deployed, the transition temperature should be at 5 °C above the desired drying temperature. However, all reviews included sections on types, classification, mode of airflow through the collector, and use of thermal storage in solar drying. Hence, the authors review nearly the same research material, but review gaps remain. Thus that aspect was covered by examining the economic and exergoeconomic analysis methods used in solar dryer evaluations. Again agribusiness inter-phasing between researchers and users, which will spore market participation of solar dryer fabricators lacking in the literature were presented. Therefore, for a more market-oriented development of solar thermal technologies, solar dryer producers must engage in market-oriented production. The nature of markets located at different places calls for better strategies to improve market orientation and access to solar dryers and fabricators.

Keywords

• Solar dryers
• Economic analysis
• Market participation
• Agricultural products
• Exergoeconomics
• Agribusiness