Regional Conference on Engineering Mathematics, Mechanics, Manufacturing & Architecture (EM3ARC) 2007

© 2007 Mathematical Sciences in Engineering

Editors: A. Zaharim et al.

DEVELOPMENT OF A CLOSE LOOP SOLAR ASSISTED HEAT PUMP

DRYER USING MULTIFUNCTIONAL SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTOR

MAA Zafri, MYH Othman, MH Ruslan, K Sopian

School of Applied Physics
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600, Bangi, Selangor.

ABSTRACT

Normally Heat Pump is used as space heating, but it can also be used for drying
purposes. For country like Malaysia which is humid and warm (during nighttime 25–
26 0C and during the daytime between 30–33 0C). The further application of it is to
get comfortable environment for air-conditioning at the same time heat delivered by
condenser can be used for drying purposes. Water collected in the evaporator can be
utilize for relevant application such as watering garden or consume by people. Heat
Transfer is one of heating and cooling mechanisms. The application is extensive and
drying is one of it. Several type of machine is use to attain this, such as heat pump
dryer, which is not only controlling heat but also the humidity and air circulation
speed as driving force for drying. Heat pump type use is vapor compression with
R134a refrigerant (one-third horsepower) and need electric power to operate. Solar
Assisted Heat Pump Dryer Using Multifunctional Solar Thermal Collector is
extension to this technology, which partially powered by solar radiation to sustain the
power. Multifunctional solar collector operates as heat collector and evaporator,
which are releasing heat. Indicate not only focuses on increasing the efficiency but
also extended the operation time. Hot temperature from the hot reservoir and low
temperature from the cold reservoir, both will beneficial which is increase the energy
collected. Close system is set to maintain the product quality. Some material is
sensitive to the direct sunlight and discards interaction from outside air from
damaging the drying material from polluted environment and surrounding bacteria.

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INTRODUCTION

Mentioning about solar energy, we always refer to the energy from the sun. This
energy is use to produce current and collect heat as well. Either photovoltaic or solar
thermal collector is design to acquire this energy. Earth axis tilt of 23°26’and
inconsistent weather throughout the year highly affect the energy collected from the
sun. Study on increasing the efficiency of the system has been done by many
researchers, from the design to the material use. In this research, it will not only
focus on increasing the efficiency, but we will come out with the solar collector that
can be use at all time and weather. Study should do to not only the collector but also
the whole system. The system operation should be in numerous conditions, such as
system entail low and high temperature. The fundamental of heat transfer mechanism
is essential. Keep in mind work/energy need on increasing and decreasing the
temperature. The low or high temperature produced been use in this applications.
Specific objective of the project of this research is development the solar assisted
heat pump drying using the multifunctional solar collector. This system is able to
produce high quality drying product in control of temperature, humidity and air
circulation speed. The system operate at low temperature (30ºC~45ºC), low humidity
(5% ~ 8%) and air circulation will fasten the drying process. Cubical close loop
dying chamber will be use in this research assuring the quality of air and keep low
humidity environment in the chamber.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This system divided into five sections, heat pump dryer, multifunctional solar
collector, drying chamber, free flow channel and solar collector hot air channel.
The frame of the heat pump drying produced from the aluminum profile, cover
with aluminum sheet and foam insulator. Six units of 240 ml water in aluminum
container is use as evaporator collector. The evaporated water is drained through the
pipe and collected. The air controlling valve system will control the air circulation.
The airflow speed also can be control using the ventilation fans.
The power of heat pump drying is one-third horsepower. Heat pump will
continuously operate during the drying process. However, the energy use and work is
depending on the temperature of the condenser and evaporator. The COP of heating
from condenser and compressor is more than evaporation by one. Therefore, if we
continuously use the heat pump for drying this will increase the usage of the
electricity. Cost on 45ºC operation is RM0.30 per hour, and the cost is more if we
increase the drying condenser temperature.
The chamber is cubical and the size is 0.65mX0.65mX0.65m. The structure of
the drying chamber uses the aluminum profile and the wall use the aluminum sheet
and foam insulator. The hot air from condenser and solar collector blowing from
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MULTIFUNCTIONAL SOLA.doc

bottom, and will pass through the tray where the samples locate. The tray
arrangements are parallel and horizontal, made by aluminum net, with the intention
that the heat can flow through.
The multifunctional solar collector is use to assist the heat pump for heating and
during cooling processes. It becomes heater, evaporator or dehumidifier. The air
controlling valve is use to control airflow. The evaporated water will be collect. The
design of the solar collector is flat plat with fin inside. This type of design is more
focus on trapping and releasing heat in the solar collector. The heat not only supply
by the solar radiation but also from the heat pump condenser. The control valve
playing an important role ensures the solar collector is collecting heat, when it
become heater and release heat when as evaporator. Evaporative cooling system is
use in the night to cool the solar collector surface. The heat difference on the solar
collector than will allow the evaporation take place. Structure and cover made by
aluminum.
Heat pump dryer cannot continuously produce heat from the condenser, and
producing ice from the evaporator. This is because the cold heat cannot hold the heat
from the condenser in evaporation process. Solar, Evaporator, free flow valve
(SEFFV) and Solar Controller Valve Channel (SCVC) is use to switch the solar
collector function as heater or evaporator, at the same time controlling the load on the
compressor not to do work more. Free Flow channel is the channel where the air
from SEFFV flow and enter the evaporator and the condenser.
Open & Close Valve System is crucial component where will create the system
open or close loop. Open system mean the fresh air from the outside will be use as
drying agent, close system will rely on the evaporator and multifunctional solar
collector as drying agent. However, in this research close loop is chose.
The supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is required to control and
study the system performance. The parameter such as temperature, humidity, weight,
electric power, pressure, wind speed and solar radiation is significant. It is use to find
the input and output power in the system which later use to find the efficiency of the
system.

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FIGURE 1: Solar Assisted Heat Pump Drying Using Multifunctional Solar Collector
Schematic Diagram

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SYSTEM COMPONENTS AND SYSTEM

TESTING

The system is test outdoor at the UKM Solar Energy Research Park and placed at the
roof of Physics Building. These performance studies and monitoring will repeat
throughout the year to obtain a long-term performance of the system. In future, this
system will also test to the cold or four-season country. Besides using heat pump for
cooling or heating, further application for this country is for drying.
Another important long-term performance evaluation criterion for this system is
the fraction of solar energy used by the system compare to the electricity. The solar
fraction used by the system differs according to the local environmental conditions.
Hence, these results will be valuable for economic optimization studies of the
system.

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MULTIFUNCTIONAL SOLA.doc

Drying curves for the various commercially available tropical fruits and medical
herbs will be determined. Information from drying curves of various temperatures
can be use to modify certain operating range and components of the system.
Steady-state models are developing for the system. This enable the experimental
data such as outlet temperature; thermal and pickup efficiencies to be validated.
Sizing and design procedures for such system will be developing. Economic
optimization studies can be conduct and optimum size for specific applications or
temperature requirements can be determine.

CONCLUSION

The multifunctional solar collector is appropriate for the system using the heat pump
drying. In this research, it is essential to have a control system to control the
temperature and the humidity in the drying chamber, because of the system deal with
environmental changes.

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