Detailed study of each part of the hybrid dryer (solar-gas)
demonstrated that thermal efficiency is affected by the air
mass flow rate inside the solar collector. The air mass flow
rate recorded in the solar collector (0.038 kg s1) was insufficient
to remove the amount of heat which accumulated in
the absorbing plate. This resulted in temperature stagnation
in a single area, hindering the removal and transport of
energy towards the drying chamber. In addition, the solar
collector evaluated in this study had a fixed angle of 40,
greater than the angle that was required (23) during experimentation.
This difference led to reduced optical efficiency,
as sunlight reflected off the two glass covers, preventing the
plate from absorbing a greater quantity of energy.