US 4,490,926 A · Solar drying device and method for drying

Abstract

A solar drying device for drying wet material. The device includes an air-filled drying chamber adapted to contain wet material to be dried. A solar collector heats the wet material and air contained within the drying chamber. A dehumidification system includes a dehumidification chamber defined in part by an outer panel and an inner panel, the outer panel being in contact with the ambient atmosphere. The dehumidification chamber forms at least part of a wall of one of the drying chamber and the solar collector. Means are provided for directing warm, moist air from the drying chamber through the dehumidification chamber so that water from the moist air condenses on the outer panel. The air is then directed to one of the drying chamber and the ambient atmosphere. Means are provided for removing the condensed water from the dehumidification system. Thus the solar drying device provides that at least one of the drying chamber and the solar collector may be thermally insulated from the ambient atmosphere in part by the dehumidification chamber.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A solar drying device for drying wet material comprising:

(a) an air filled drying chamber having walls, adapted to contain the wet material;
(b) a solar collector having walls, adapted to heat the wet material and the air contained within the drying chamber to a temperature greater than that of the ambient atmosphere;
and
(c) a dehumidification system having
a dehumidification chamber having an interiorly facing surface adapted to be cooler than the air contained within the drying chamber when that air has been heated by the solar collector, the dehumidification chamber being defined at least in part by an outer panel and an inner panel, the outer panel being in contact with the ambient atmosphere, and the dehumidification chamber forming at least part of a wall of one of the drying chamber and the solar collector;
means for directing warm, moist air from the drying chamber through the dehumidification chamber so that water from the moist air may condense on the outer panel,
means for directing air from the dehumidification chamber to one of the drying chamber and the ambient atmosphere, and
means for removing the condensed water from the dehumidification system, whereby at least one of the drying chamber and the solar collector may be thermally insulated from the ambient atmosphere in part by the dehumidification chamber.

5 more elements

A method for drying wet material in a solar heated drying chamber the front wall of which includes a dehumidification chamber having inner and outer panels made of solar radiation transmitting material and adapted to admit solar energy into the drying chamber to warm its contents above the temperature of the ambient atmosphere with which the outer panel is in contact, the method comprising the steps of

(a) directing warm, moist air from the drying chamber between the inner and outer panels;
(b) condensing water from the warm, moist air on the outer panel;
(c) returning the air to one of the drying chamber and the ambient atmosphere;
and
(d) removing the condensed water from between the panels, expelling it from the dehumidification chamber, whereby the contents of the drying chamber may be thermally insulated from the ambient atmosphere in part by the dehumidification chamber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solar drying device and method for drying

Life of this patent

Solar drying device and method for drying

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22