THERMAL PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE HEAT PUMP DRYER

Phiched Thanin; Sommai Saramath; Panuwit Puttaraksa; Praphatsorn Rattanaphaiboon; Piyapond Makming; Latthaphonh Kythavone; Monnarin Rueangjit

Authors

Phiched Thanin Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, North-Chiang Mai University, 169 M.3, Nong keaw, Hangdong, Chiang Mai 50230
Sommai Saramath Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, 128 Huay Kaew Road, Muang, Chiang Mai 50300
Panuwit Puttaraksa Ph.D. Student, School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, 63 M.4, Nong Han, San Sai, Chiang Mai 50290
Praphatsorn Rattanaphaiboon Ph.D. Student, School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, 63 M.4, Nong Han, San Sai, Chiang Mai 50290
Piyapond Makming Ph.D. Student, School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, 63 M.4, Nong Han, San Sai, Chiang Mai 50290
Latthaphonh Kythavone Ph.D. Student, School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, 63 M.4, Nong Han, San Sai, Chiang Mai 50290
Monnarin Rueangjit Ph.D. Student, School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, 63 M.4, Nong Han, San Sai, Chiang Mai 50290

Keywords:

Gymnema tea, Coefficient of performance, Drying efficiency, Payback period

Abstract

This work presents the thermal performance and economic perspectives of a high temperature heat pump dryer. The optimal design under the thermodynamic and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are used to develop the prototype heat pump system. A drying chamber of 0.94 m³ is supplied heat by a 3.2 kW R-134a heat pump. Gymnema tea is used to evaluate the thermal performance at a drying temperature of 45-60 ^oC. The optimal data are found under the testing conditions of an operating time of 240 minutes, a moisture content of 60% Wet-basis, a drying rate of 1.20 k_gw/(kg_G×min), and a specific consumption of 3.71 kWh/kg_G. Drying efficiency, energy efficiency ratio (EER), and heating coefficient of performance (COP_H) are approximately 71.56%, 2.42 kW_th/kW_e, and 5.37 respectively. Economic results are a payback period of 1.02 years and an internal rate return of 49.9%.

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