Experimental ginger drying in an upgraded sustainable vertical cabinet solar dryer

An upgraded vertical cabinet solar dryer having heat storage reservoir and evacuated tube collector (VCSD-HSR-ETC) has been fabricated and tested for ginger slices drying at an inlet air velocity of 0.2, 1.2 and 2.2 m/s. The effect of phase change material (palmitic acid) on performance parameters such as drying kinetics, thermal, exergetic, environmental and economics has been investigated at different air velocities. The VCSD-HSR-ETC alleviated the initial moisture content of ginger from 88.5% to 8.69% (wb) at 2.2 m/s. Midilli Kucuk model demonstrated the best drying behaviour of ginger slices. The heat transfer coefficients and exergy efficiency were observed to be highest at 2.2 m/s. The average thermal efficiency was found to be 14.39% higher at 2.2 m/s compared to 0.2 m/s air velocity. The energy payback time for VCSD-HSR-ETC was recorded as 3.03, 2.83 and 2.82 years at 0.2, 1.2 and 2.2 m/s, respectively. The economic viability was evaluated based on annualized cost, saving and payback period, resulting in maximum payback periods of 1.16 years for air velocity of 2.2 m/s. The quality of the dried ginger slices samples was found better at 2.2 m/s. The findings of this study have the potential to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of agriculture drying techniques in both industry and rural areas.