Performance of a mixed-mode air recirculation solar dryer integrated with thermal energy storage and evacuated tube solar collector for drying sweet corn kernels.

A novel mixed-mode air recirculation solar dryer was developed and tested for drying sweet corn kernels. The air recirculation system was combined with an evacuated tube solar collector installed on a mixed-mode solar dryer. Performance parameters such as the drying kinetics and drying efficiency were investigated. The time required to dry sweet corn kernels with open sun drying was 21.5 h, whereas using the mixed-mode solar dryer was much faster, taking about 12-16 h to reduce the moisture content from an initial 77.12% to a final 12.34 - 14.2%. The drying efficiency ranged from 9.8479 to 14.3776%, with the SEC ranging from 10.1733 kWh/kg to 12.7867 kWh/kg. The ETSC efficiency ranged from 48.9754 to 61.9727% and could heat water to 62 °C. Overall, drying at a 50% air recirculation ratio showed the best performance.