Drying Kinetics of Natural Rubber Sheets by Using a Hybrid Solar-Electric Dryer with Force Convection
In this work, a hybrid solar-electrical dryer was constructed for studying the drying kinetics of natural
rubber sheets. This system composed of the solar collector, which used to collect heat from the sun light. The hot air
from solar collector was sent to the drying chamber, where an auxiliary heater can increase the temperature in the
drying chamber in order to control the drying temperature. The rubber sheets were dried at the controlled
temperature 40 50 and 60 °C. The moisture ratio of rubber sheets drying was investigated. Seven models were
tested to fit with the experimental data. A modified Henderson and Pabis model was the best of curve fitting of the
drying behavior of rubber sheets in these specific experimental conditions. Finally, the consumptions of electrical
energy and solar energy were determined, which is found in the range of 15-32% of the solar energy used