Publication: Investigation on the thermal performance and heat distribution of agricultural drying house
Loading...
Date
2024-07
Authors
Muhammad Danial Wong bin Mohd Khalid Wong
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Agricultural drying houses are specialized structures designed to remove moisture from agricultural products like grains, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Their primary purpose is to preserve quality and safety by optimizing the drying process to prevent microbial growth and spoilage, thus extending shelf life and maintaining nutritional and sensory qualities. However, drying houses face significant challenges, particularly in moisture control and consistent drying. Improper moisture management can lead to insufficient drying, increasing spoilage risk and degrading product quality. Inconsistent drying, often due to uneven airflow and temperature distribution, can cause some products to over-dry while others remain too moist. Environmental factors such as external humidity, temperature, and wind speed further impact the drying process, especially in naturally ventilated drying houses. This project aims to investigate the thermal performance and heat distribution within an agricultural drying house in Kg. Pendang, Kedah, Malaysia, to optimize the drying process. Using SolidWorks for structural design and ANSYS for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, the study will analyze airflow and temperature distribution to identify ventilation and temperature gradient issues. A key focus will be on optimizing exhaust fans to improve airflow patterns and maintain consistent humidity levels, enhancing overall drying efficient.