In the present study, a low-cost solar fruit and vegetable dryer was designed, constructed, and tested for small-scale production, especially in households. An optimizing procedure was performed to convert a typical widely-used direct cabinet dryer into a new indirect dryer using experimental data and numerical simulations. Several well-designed experiments accompanied by CFD simulations using finite volume method were carried out. It was concluded that the proposed conversion procedure could be achieved utilizing a blackened absorber plate, an air circulating unit, and a honeycomb air manifold. The drying capacity of the dryer could be increased by more than 50% in comparison with the direct type by adding a new tray to the optimized dryer. The thermal efficiency of the proposed solar dryer was estimated 16.4%, indicating that the desirable energy performance of the dryer was superior to some available designs of solar dryers. Besides, it was observed that the proposed numerical approach was able to produce a reliable qualitative and quantitative insight into both the thermal and fluid mechanical behavior of the dryer. Finally, it was claimed that not only was the developed apparatus suitable and efficient for the household usage, but also the optimized version of the dryer could be inspiring for those who are currently using typical direct cabinet dryers to convert their dryers into indirect ones.

在本研究中，为小型生产（尤其是在家庭中）的小规模生产设计，建造和测试了低成本的太阳能水果和蔬菜干燥机。进行了优化程序，使用实验数据和数值模拟将典型的广泛使用的直接橱柜干燥机转换为新的间接干燥机。进行了一些精心设计的实验，并使用有限体积方法进行了CFD模拟。结论是，建议的转换程序可以使用吸黑板，空气循环单元和蜂窝状空气歧管来实现。通过将新的托盘添加到优化的干燥机中，与直接干燥机相比，干燥机的干燥能力可以提高50％以上。拟议中的太阳能干燥机的热效率估计为16.4％，这表明干衣机的理想能源性能优于某些太阳能干衣机的可用设计。此外，据观察，所提出的数值方法能够对干燥机的热和流体力学行为产生可靠的定性和定量分析。最后，据称，所开发的设备不仅适合家庭使用且效率高，而且干燥机的优化版本也可能启发那些目前正在使用典型的直接橱柜式干燥机将其干燥机转换为间接式干燥机的人。据观察，所提出的数值方法能够对干燥机的热和流体力学行为产生可靠的定性和定量见解。最后，据称，所开发的设备不仅适合家庭使用且效率高，而且干燥机的优化版本也可能启发那些目前正在使用典型的直接橱柜式干燥机将其干燥机转换为间接式干燥机的人。据观察，所提出的数值方法能够对干燥机的热和流体力学行为产生可靠的定性和定量见解。最后，据称，所开发的设备不仅适合家庭使用且效率高，而且干燥机的优化版本也可能启发那些目前正在使用典型的直接橱柜式干燥机将其干燥机转换为间接式干燥机的人。