Design and realization of a new solar dryer assisted by a parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) with a dual-axis solar tracker

This article presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a new solar dryer equipped with a tracking system. The dryer was assisted by a cylindrical-parabolic concentrator which moved along two vertical and horizontal axes. The study was conducted at El-Oued University (latitude 33°23′N and longitude 6°51′E). The experimental performance evaluation involved drying 10 kg of apricots from 69 % to 8 % moisture content (wb). The thermal efficiency of the dryer was tested under no-load and full-load conditions. The results indicated that the solar dryer achieved a temperature of up to 115 °C at the receiver in the focal line and 70 °C in the drying chamber, which was sufficient for effective drying of various agricultural products. Additionally, an economic analysis further substantiates the viability of our solar dryer, showcasing a notably low capital cost and negligible electricity expenses. With a substantial difference in the cost of fresh versus dried apricots, our system boasts a reduced payback period estimated at 0.43 years. This research demonstrates the potential of using solar power to dry crops and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.