NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE AIR FLOW IN AN INDIRECT SOLAR DRYER WITH NATURAL CONVECTION

Abstract

In this work, we have simulated the air flow in an indirect solar dryer with natural convection, and we study the behavior of its flow from the inlet of the collector to the outlet of the drying chamber. This phenomenon is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations. These equations, coupled with the initial and boundary conditions, are discretized by a finite difference method and then solved numerically using Gaussian algorithms. The resolution of these equations allows us to have the temperature profile which varies from 303 K to 343 K, also a velocity profile which is between 0.5 m/s and 2.5 m/s and finally a drop in pressure along the drying chamber. Also, we have shown the influence of the geometry of the dryer on the flow of the drying air.