Sizing procedure of solar heating systems for agricultural products drying / Metodologia de dimensionamento de sistemas de aquecimento solar para secagem de produtos agricolas

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2004

RESUMO

A solar collector design procedure was proposed for sizing solar assisted crop-drying systems using empiric correlations, previously found, to determine the solar fraction supplied by the system. A case study of an in-bin crop drying was accomplished in the city of Campinas - SP with pre-heating of the air through a solar collector complemented by conventional energy source (LPG or firewood). The used solar collector had an area of 1,80m2, it was built with low cost materials and, due to its pebble bed, it presented a high thermal inertia and storing energy capacity. The collector was characterized by determining its efficiency curve and its time constant. As observed in conventional solar collectors, the characteristic curve presented linear behavior. The capacity to store thermal energy was confirmed by the high value of the time constant and by the delay between the useful heat and the incident solar radiation curves. In the studied case of drying 1,20 tons of corn, using a specific air flow rate equal to 1,20 m3/m3.min and a temperature of 50°C, it was saved 31% of the demanded energy for air heating. For a solar-assisted drying using LPG as the conventional source of energy, an optimum collector area of 7,50m2 was found through the life cycle saving analysis calculated with an annual interest rate of 0,12, providing the maximum saves during the equipment life cycle. Increasing the interest rate reduced both optimum collector areas and life cycle savings. For the crop drying case, it was demonstrated the economical viability of the conversion of LPG based to solar-assisted systems, providing reduction in the environmental impacts of the activity and savings for the rural producer. In the same conditions was demonstrated there is no economical viability in the conversion of firewood based to solar-assisted systems.

ASSUNTO(S)

coletores solares solar collectors solar energy in agriculture grain drying grãos - secagem solar heating aquecimento solar energia solar na agricultura

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