7E + Q analysis: a new multi-dimensional assessment tool of solar dryer for food and agricultural products

Abstract Drying process has been employed since ancient times to preserve agricultural products by reducing the moisture content. Solar dryer is one of most commonly used dryers due its availability, reliability, and environmentally friendly nature. It practical in rural areas solar can be fabricated with a simple design. Despite potential, designing long-term, feasible challenging without good understanding performance parameters, such as energy, exergy, economic, environmental (4E) aspect, impact on product quality. Therefore, many attempts have dedicated conducting these analyses. Nonetheless, information obtained only one-dimensional, they do not reflect actual behaviour dryer. This paper aims provide comprehensive critical review additional 3E namely energoeconomic, exergoeconomic, enviroeconomic. Moreover, effect drying quality parameters (Q) will discussed. Furthermore, new idea perform environmental, enviroeconomic (7E) analysis (7E + Q) proposed outlined improve operability envisaged that 7E Q pave way for more effective efficient dryers. Graphical