Design and construction of a hybrid system of heating air by combustion of biomass and solar radiation, using phase change material (PCM) as a source of thermal storage, for cassava drying

Abstract

This study consisted of designing, building and validation a hybrid system of heating air by combustion of biomass and solar radiation, using phase change material (PCM) as a thermal storage source, for cassava drying, a small scale. The dryer consists of a centrifugal fan, two solar collectors, a fuel burner solid (rice husk) and a tray dryer. System validation was performed drying up Yucca. The PCM allowed to follow the drying process, even when the solar radiation was below 116,22 ± 31,94 W / m2, being able to maintain drying air temperatures in the two solar collectors at 46 ± 4, 29 ° C and 51 ± 4.08 ° C for an additional 45 min. The drying time was 10 h and 45 min, the efficiency of the solar collectors was 43.91 % and the rice husk burner of 36.72 %.

Keywords

• Drying
• cassava
• PCM
• hybrid
• heating