Performance evaluation of an indirect solar dryer equipped with an auxiliary electrical resistance

In this study, the influence of the addition of an electrical resistance in the indirect solar dryer was studied. The CFD numerical method was used to evaluate and analyze the temperature distribution of the chamber and the drying trays. The data of metrological station installed at the University Mohamed I was considered to integrate the unsteady variation of climatic conditions in the CFD model. First, the effect of the addition of the electrical resistance was studied and compared with the case without electrical resistance. Then, the effect of the position of the electric resistance on the temperature distribution in the drying rack and the drying chamber was investigated.