EFFECT OF IR INTENSITY AND AIR TEMPERATURE ON EXERGY AND ENERGY AT HYBRID INFRARED-HOT AIR DRYER

The present study analyses energy and exergy consumption for drying dog-rose flowers using a hybrid infrared and hot-air dryer at three IR (Infrared) radiation levels, three airflow velocities, and three drying temperatures. Results showed that energy and exergy efficiencies sharply increased at the beginning of the drying process. Energy loss, exergy destruction and exergy loss increased with increasing IR radiation, rise in the incoming air's temperature, and decrease of the airflow velocity. The average of lowest energy and exergy efficiencies were 5.76 and 3.98%, respectively, observed at the air temperature of 40 degrees C using an IR radiation of 0.22 W/cm(2) and an airflow velocity of 1 m/s. The average of highest energy and exergy efficiency values were 49.92 and 23.65%, respectively, observed at the beginning of the drying process at 60 degrees C using 0.49 W/cm(2) IR radiation and an airflow velocity of 0.4 m/s.