Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling to simulate the thermal and fluid-dynamic behavior of a solar chimney dryer

This study presents a 2-D CFD-based model to simulate the thermal and fluid-dynamic behavior of a solar chimney dryer prototype developed by the University of California, Davis. The model, developed in ANSYS-Fluent software, utilizes the Shear Stress Tensor (SST) equations and the Discrete Ordinates (DO) model to model turbulence and thermal radiation, respectively. The validity of the model is established by comparing the results obtained by simulation with experimental data, and the velocity and temperature fields are analyzed at three different time instants. The research concludes that the CFD model can be used to predict the behavior of the solar chimney dryer, providing information on heat transfer and airflow behavior to optimize the design and improve efficiency. The study suggests that a more complete profile of ambient conditions and experimental measurements of the convective heat transfer coefficient should be considered to improve simulation accuracy. The findings have implications for designing and optimizing solar dryers for food preservation, particularly for small-scale producers, contributing to the reduction of food losses from post-harvest to retail. The use of CFD models in designing sustainable and cost-effective food preservation methods using solar energy can save economic resources and manufacturing time, promoting the sustainability of food production.