Energy and exergy analysis of a geothermal energy sourced hot-air drying system

Abstract

A geothermal energy-sourced drying system was tested for the thin-layer drying process of tomato slices at air temperatures of 40 degrees C, 50 degrees C and 60? and velocities of 0.5 m/s and 1.5 m/s to investigate system performance in terms of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The energy and the exergy efficiency of the system were found to be 6.6% and 22.31%. The energy utilisation and energy utilisation ratio were calculated in the range of 1.271 kW-5.102 kW and 9.644%-39.56%, respectively. The exergy destruction, exergy efficiency and improvement potential of the drying chamber varied between 0.0198 kW-0.2621 kW, 59.74%-81.95% and 0.00486 kW-0.07396 kW, respectively.