Evaluating the efficacy of coconut oil as thermal storage media for enhancing solar drying performance of wood fuels

• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-024-13038-2
• Publication Date: 2024-04-07T16:01:15Z
• Authors: Baibhaw Kumar; Arun K. Raj; Gábor Szepesi; Zoltán Szamosi
• Keywords: Coconut oil

Abstract The appropriate storage, transportation, and utilization of wood-based fuels, including woodchips, pellets, sawdust, in the energy production process, depends on their efficient drying. Traditional drying methods include limitations such as high thermal losses, inefficient heat transfer, sustainability issues. These barriers, coupled with costs complexities maintaining desired moisture content, underscore need for innovative solutions. This study introduces a novel approach to wood fuel through integration phase-change materials (PCMs) hybrid solar systems, aimed at enhancing efficiency sustainability. Employing coconut oil PCM, experiments were performed under consistent artificial radiation 755 W m −2 . system demonstrated capability retain approximately 200 watts useful three hours post-radiation, marking significant improvement storage. Our findings reveal peak exergy efficiencies 30–35% 13–14%, respectively. An economic environmental analysis predicts lifespan five years, cost generating one kilogram hot air 0.0058 EUR an annual CO 2 emission 64.09 kg. research offers cost-effective environmentally friendly method drying, presenting advancement large-scale producers setting benchmark further exploration technologies.