Sustainable growth of solar drying technologies: Advancing the use of thermal energy storage for domestic and industrial applications

Modern technology has advanced the development of solar dryers, utilizing solar radiation to efficiently remove moisture from various materials, including agricultural products, textiles, and industrial parts. These dryers create a controlled drying environment, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. This comprehensive study covers direct, indirect, and mixed-mode solar dryers with sensible and latent heat storage units, offering guidance on designing cost-effective thermal storage systems. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems significantly enhance dryer performance due to their cost-effectiveness and availability. Phase Change Material (PCM), commonly used for thermal energy storage, is particularly efficient in solar dryers, offering high density and a smaller temperature gradient between storage and heat release. PCMs provide stable and moderate temperatures essential for drying most crops effectively. Integrating PCMs in solar dryers improves thermal efficiency, promotes uniform drying, reduces microbial growth, and produces higher-quality dried products, with efficiency gains ranging from 2.98 % to 39 %. Solar dryers are economically beneficial for farming communities, utilizing local resources and enhancing sustainability in domestic and industrial applications. This article provides a detailed analysis of the advancements, benefits, challenges, and recommendations for using energy storage materials in solar dryers, concluding that solar dryers with thermal storage systems are environmentally and economically viable options.