Selecting optimal conditions for drying fruit in a solar dryer using phase change materials and nanotechnology with an AHP-based approach

The aim of this paper is to determine the optimal operating mode of a solar dryer using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The main limitation of solar dryers is the intermittent nature of solar energy, but this can be overcome by using thermal energy storage systems. In this study, a solar dryer was evaluated under six different conditions (options) in both indoor and outdoor environments, each with three configurations: without phase change material (PCM), with animal fat biodiesel as PCM, and with PCM reinforced with magnesium oxide nanomaterials. The AHP model structure consisted of seven technical and operational criteria, which were weighted by a group of experts. According to the results, option R۵ (indoor environment with nano-reinforced PCM) was identified as the most favorable drying condition, with a final weight of ۰.۲۴۵. In contrast, option R۲ (outdoor environment without PCM), with a weight of ۰.۰۷۶, was the most unfavorable. Among the criteria, product quality was considered the most important factor, with a weight of ۰.۴۰۸, and labor difficulty was considered the least important factor, with a weight of ۰.۰۲۹. This study showed that the incorporation of nano-reinforced PCM in an indoor controlled environment provides the best trade-off between energy efficiency, operational feasibility, and final product quality.

کلیدواژه ها:

AHP ، Dryer ، phase change materials ، Solar energy ، Magnesium Nanomaterials