E-Portfolio 4.3

Personal Understanding

From the recent meeting my supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jidon Janaun, we make an adjustment by changing the title of my research to the development of multi-pass solar heat collectors for UMS Eco-Solar dryer. The new objectives have also been developed matching with the title.  The research will mainly focus on the solar heat collector of the dryer. Double pass solar heat collector will be developed to improve the performance of the solar heat collector and to achieve the objectives.

From the previous study of UMS Eco-Solar dryer, the maximum temperature it can reach is up to 60oC. However, some crops may require a higher temperature to retain the properties and structure of the crops. This study will be different between the two types of material in two types of design. The material will be aluminium and copper. The time for the fluid movement from the inlet to the outlet needs to be increased. It is to make sure the absorption of solar radiation to heat the air reaches the desired temperature. The longest path for the fluid movement needed to make sure the heat transfer process in the solar collector in the optimum condition. 

Next, the second objective required me to the calculation to determine the theoretical temperature if the solar heat collector. It can be done based on the ambient temperature of the solar heat collector. The heat and mass transfer will be involved.

The last objectives are to determine the efficiency of the solar heat collector. It needs to be done to find out the performance of the solar heat collector. The usefulness of the present design and the new design will be compared to the calculation of the efficiency. 

More literature needs to be read. It will be more focusing on the solar heat collector of the solar dryer, the temperature difference between ambient temperature and the drying chamber of the solar dryer, and of course the efficiency of the solar collector.