Design of a heating system for a solar food dryer, powered by solar thermal and photovoltaic energy, for a rural production unit

This study presents an experimental sizing analysis to implement an autonomous photovoltaic system aimed at powering an array of halogen lamps as a thermal source, enabling a solar food dryer to achieve the drying process. As some products do not sun dry entirely in a single day, a system to provide an additional energy source to maintain heat is proposed. This energy backup system will be helpful to achieve the humidity loss of products in different environmental conditions, nights, cloudy, and rainy days. The experimental results were recorded using a multimeter, a thermocouple, and a hygrometer. The results show that the autonomous photovoltaic system meets the electrical demand for the required time. The halogen lamp array allows the solar dryer chamber to reach higher temperatures, even in the shade.