Design and analysis of a Hybrid Drying Using Renewable Technologies

Abstract

The design and construction of a hybrid prototype for drying algal biomass is presented. The dryer is composed from a solar induced air collector and a greenhouse drying chamber which main energy source is that one coming from the sun. It is complemented with an electric system used as auxiliary heating mechanism. During the data collection, meteorological conditions (radiation, temperature, local humidity) were measured in order to determine the effect on the final quality of biomass going to be used. The drying productivity is analyzed in function of the solar energy received and the product moisture. The drying rate curves of the selected samples, finally, curves of behavior variation of the temperature profile were elaborated;. Useful energy, theoretical and experimental losses of the system were obtained and during the development of the project