Efficient grain drying is a critical process in tropical agriculture, where high humidity often accelerates post-harvest losses. This study evaluates a laboratory-scale passive solar grain dryer incorporating painted rock pebbles as thermal energy storage (TES). By leveraging the unique thermal properties of painted rocks, the system seeks to address challenges of inconsistent solar energy in tropical regions. The study investigates the thermal efficiency, drying performance, and overall feasibility of this system. Comparative analyses with conventional methods are presented, along with recommendations for scaling the technology.
IRE Journals:
Adebayo David Samuel , Bennett I. Eziefula , Temple Ihiechukwunyere Agodike
"Evaluation of the Performance of a Laboratory-Scale Passive Solar Grain Dryer with Painted Rock Pebbles as Thermal Energy Storage in Tropical Conditions" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 3 Issue 7 2020 Page 185-192
IEEE:
Adebayo David Samuel , Bennett I. Eziefula , Temple Ihiechukwunyere Agodike
"Evaluation of the Performance of a Laboratory-Scale Passive Solar Grain Dryer with Painted Rock Pebbles as Thermal Energy Storage in Tropical Conditions" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 3(7)