Design, Construction and Experimental Evaluation of Hybrid Solar Clothes Drying System

This paper presents a design and performance analysis of a solar driven clothes drying system. The system comprises an evacuated tube solar array and an integrated photovoltaic panel used to power the drying fans, and a drying chamber for cloth hang. In addition to the electrical power that replenishes a 12V DC battery which powers the air blowing fans, the PV panel also provides further thermal energy which is used to preheat the air entering the system. Drying performance tests of the drying system were conducted under controlled conditions using simulated solar radiation for a range of clothes samples. The test results showed the ability of the system to perform under variable solar radiation conditions.