Development Of Active Mixed-Mode Solar Dryer With Limestones As Thermal Energy Booster

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of limestone as a thermal energy booster on the drying performance of a mixed-mode solar dryer. The researchers prepared three drying setups such as the traditional open-type, the closed-type mixed mode without limestone, and the similar closed-type mixed mode with limestone. The limestone was set at the entrance of the drying chamber component of the device. The three drying setups were operated simultaneously for five days (from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) on three different products such as banana, potato, and pineapple. The basis for the drying performance is the moisture loss of the three products with initial weights of 200 grams each. The researchers recorded the temperatures at the air heater inlet, the drying chamber inlet, and the drying chamber outlet. The study found that there was a significant difference between the three setups with the mixed-mode solar dryer with limestone as the most effective on all three products.