ijesg International Journal of Energy and Smart Grid 2548-0332 2636-7904 Zülküf GÜLSÜN Energy Systems Engineering (Other) Enerji Sistemleri Mühendisliği (Diğer) DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF A HYBRID SOLAR DRYER USING FORCED CONVECTION PRINCIPLE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7627-672X Muhammad Jamilu Ya'u Bayero University, Kano Nigeria Abdullahı Adamu Yusuf Department of Mechatronic Engineering, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria Abdulhamid Ibrahim Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Federal University Wukari, Taraba, Nigeria Abdulkadır Auwal Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria Ibrahım Ibrahim National Space Research and Development Agency Maıkudı Mahmoud Nigeria Defense Academy Alıyu Mustapha Department of Physics, Bayero University 01 08 2021 5 1-2 11 26 10 03 2020 12 30 2020 Copyright © 2016, International Journal of Energy and Smart Grid 2016 International Journal of Energy and Smart Grid

In developing countries like Nigeria, local farmers are always facing challenges on drying and preservation of the agricultural products after harvesting due to losses in quality and quantity of the products by using local drying method, to address the problem, solar drying system is used. This study presented design, construction and performance assessment of a hybrid solar dryer using forced convection principle for drying of tomato slices. The system consists of solar collector, drying chamber with four drying trays, solar photovoltaic for powering fans and adding more heating in the evening and/or cloudy hours and chimney. The result revealed that for all the testing days, the air temperatures at the drying chamber were greater than that at ambient, solar collector and chimney outlet. It was also found that the solar dryer has a drying rate of 0.274kg/hr while the dryer efficiency and collector’s efficiency were 50.2% and 43.03% respectively. It was recommended that the solar drying system should be used to dry and preserve the agricultural products without losses in quality and quantity of the products.

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