Solar Drying Technology: Current Research Trends and Future Perspectives

Nanang  Apriandi; Rani  Raharjanti; Avicenna  An-nizami; Yusuf Dewantoro  Herlambang; Yoyok Dwi Setyo  Pambudi; Khoiri  Rozi; Komang Metty Trisna  Negara; Nur  Setyowati

doi:10.25077/aijaset.v4i3.193

Authors

Nanang Apriandi Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
Rani Raharjanti Department of Accounting, Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Avicenna An-nizami Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
Yusuf Dewantoro Herlambang Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
Yoyok Dwi Setyo Pambudi Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitas Pamulang, Tangerang Selatan 15310, Indonesia
Khoiri Rozi Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Komang Metty Trisna Negara Universitas Samawa, Indonesia
Nur Setyowati Shu Te University, Taiwan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25077/aijaset.v4i3.193

Abstract

Solar drying technology has become a vital innovation for sustainable food preservation and renewable energy utilization, offering an energy-efficient alternative to conventional drying methods. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends, influential authors, key institutions, and geographical contributions in the field of solar drying technology from 2004 to 2024. We analyzed 108 relevant publications using the Scopus database and VOSviewer software, revealing a significant increase in research output since 2010, with a marked surge after 2016. India and China emerge as leading contributors, driven by their large agricultural sectors and favorable solar conditions. Key research efforts have focused on improving energy efficiency, optimizing drying processes, and preserving product quality. Despite these advancements, critical gaps remain, particularly in scaling solar drying systems and integrating hybrid technologies that combine solar energy with other renewable sources. This study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to advance technological innovation and address challenges in food security and energy sustainability. Future research should focus on developing hybrid systems, finding better ways to store energy, and studying how solar drying affects the taste and nutritional value of food in order to make it more useful in a wider range of climates and farming situations.

Keywords: Solar Drying Technology, Bibliometric Analysis, Renewable Energy, Hybrid Systems, and Food Preservation.

Author Biographies

Nanang Apriandi, Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Avicenna An-nizami, Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Yusuf Dewantoro Herlambang, Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Semarang, Semarang 50275, Indonesia

Komang Metty Trisna Negara, Universitas Samawa, Indonesia

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Samawa, Indonesia

Nur Setyowati, Shu Te University, Taiwan

Department of Finance, Shu Te University, Taiwan

References

A. Hassan, A. M. Nikbakht, S. Fawzia, P. K. Yarlagadda, and A. Karim, “Assessment of thermal and environmental benchmarking of a solar dryer as a pilot zero-emission drying technology,” Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, vol. 48, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2023.103084.

N. Apriandi, Y. D. Herlambang, A. Khoryanton, Y. M. Safarudin, Z. W. Baskara, and R. Raharjanti, “The Newton Model for Seaweed Drying: An Investigation of a Cabinet Dryer Using Biomass Energy,” Eksergi, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 1–4, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://jurnal.polines.ac.id/index.php/eksergi

A. Firdaus, “Perancangan dan Analisa Alat Pengering Ikan dengan Memanfaatkan Energi Briket Batubara,” Jurnal Teknik Mesin (JTM), vol. 06, pp. 128–136, 2016.

V. R. Mugi, M. C. Gilago, V. P. Chandramohan, and S. B. Valasingam, “Experimental evaluation of performance, drying and thermal parameters of guava slabs dried in a forced convection indirect solar dryer without and with thermal energy storage,” Renew Energy, vol. 223, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.120005.

H. Bhavsar and C. M. Patel, “Performance analysis of cabinet type solar dryer for ginger drying with & without thermal energy storage material,” Mater Today Proc, vol. 73, pp. 595–603, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.11.280.

C. Yüksel, M. Öztürk, and E. Çiftçi, “Analysis of a novel V-grooved double pass photovoltaic thermal solar dryer including thermal energy storage,” Appl Therm Eng, vol. 236, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.121697.

A. A. Mathew, V. Thangavel, N. A. Mandhare, and M. R. Nukulwar, “Latent and sensible heat thermal storage in a heat pipe-based evacuated tube solar dryer: A comparative performance analysis,” J Energy Storage, vol. 57, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.106305.

D. Chaatouf, M. Salhi, B. Raillani, A. Bria, S. Amraqui, and A. Mezrhab, “Solar dryer analysis and effectiveness under four seasons with sensible and latent heat storage units,” Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, vol. 85, May 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ifset.2023.103310.

J. K. Andharia, J. B. Solanki, and S. Maiti, “Performance evaluation of a mixed-mode solar thermal dryer with black pebble-based sensible heat storage for drying marine products,” J Energy Storage, vol. 57, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.106186.

N. Kalita, P. Muthukumar, and A. Dalal, “Performance investigation of a hybrid solar dryer with electric and biogas backup air heaters for chilli drying,” Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, vol. 52, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102646.

N. Apriandi et al., “Karakterisasi Alat Pengering Tipe Kabinet Berbahan Bakar Liquefied Petrolium Gas (LPG) Dengan Penambahan Low Cost Material Heat Storage (LCMHS),” Jurnal Rekayasa Mesin, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 281–288, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://jurnal.polines.ac.id/index.php/rekayasa

S. Sudirman, I. Baliarta, I. Sudana, M. E. Arsana, A. An-Nizhami, and N. Apriandi, “Aplikasi Cooling Dehumidification pada Mesin Pengering untuk Mengeringkan Hasil Panen Tanaman Herbal,” Jurnal Rekayasa Mesin, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 37–44, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://jurnal.polines.ac.id/index.php/rekayasa

M. A. Kherrafi et al., “Advancements in solar drying technologies: Design variations, hybrid systems, storage materials and numerical analysis: A review,” Mar. 01, 2024, Elsevier Ltd. doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2024.112383.

Z. Deng, M. Li, T. Xing, J. Zhang, Y. Wang, and Y. Zhang, “A literature research on the drying quality of agricultural products with using solar drying technologies,” Solar Energy, vol. 229, pp. 69–83, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2021.07.041.

A. Bayu, D. Nandiyanto, M. Fiandini, D. Novia, and A. Husaeni, “Research Trends from The Scopus Database Using Keyword Water Hyacinth and Ecosystem: A Bibliometric Literature Review,” ASEAN Journal of Science and Engineering Journal homepage: ASEAN Journal of Science and Engineering, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 34, 2024, doi: 10.17509/ajse.v4i1.

S. Vijayan, T. V. Arjunan, and A. Kumar, “Mathematical modeling and performance analysis of thin layer drying of bitter gourd in sensible storage based indirect solar dryer,” Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, vol. 36, pp. 59–67, Aug. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.ifset.2016.05.014.

K. Kant, A. Shukla, A. Sharma, A. Kumar, and A. Jain, “Thermal energy storage based solar drying systems: A review,” Apr. 01, 2016, Elsevier Ltd. doi: 10.1016/j.ifset.2016.01.007.

H. El Hage, A. Herez, M. Ramadan, H. Bazzi, and M. Khaled, “An investigation on solar drying: A review with economic and environmental assessment,” Energy, vol. 157, pp. 815–829, Aug. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.05.197.

R. Sehrawat, P. K. Nema, and B. P. Kaur, “Effect of superheated steam drying on properties of foodstuffs and kinetic modeling,” Apr. 01, 2016, Elsevier Ltd. doi: 10.1016/j.ifset.2016.02.003.

N. S. Rathore and N. L. Panwar, “Experimental studies on hemi cylindrical walk-in type solar tunnel dryer for grape drying,” Appl Energy, vol. 87, no. 8, pp. 2764–2767, 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.03.014.