Heat and mass transfer of the drying process of trout in a new type solar drier

In this study, drying process of a trout in a solar drier was experimentally investigated. The study was carried out in three stages. At the beginning, solar powered air collector was experimentally analysed. In the analysis, five different types of the collectors were taken into consideration. The efficiencies of the collectors were estimated according to first and second laws of thermodynamics. The collector, having the highest efficiency regarding to first law, was chosen for the drying process. Experiments were conducted at the air velocities of 2.3 and 4m/s for drying process. In the next steps, both the temperature and velocity were kept constant. An electrical resistance was put account in order to stabilize the speed. Experiments were accomplished at the constant velocities of 3.4 and 5m/s, constant temperatures of 50, 60 and 70oC. Effects of the air speed, temperature, hold of the trout in the salt and trout sizes on the drying process were researched. Moisture content, dimensionless humidity and drying velocity were calculated with respect to results obtained from drying experiments and the data were turned into graphical representations. Mathematical models were proposed to drying curves and diffusion coefficients were computed for each case. At the final stage, the exergy analysis of the drier was evaluated.