Thin layer mathematical modelling of white maize in a mobile solar-biomass hybrid dryer

Performance of a tractor mounted solar-biomass hybrid dryer which utilise combined energy solar and biomass was investigated. Drying behaviour maize grains in the also investigated using 10 thin-layer mathematical models. The models were compared based on coefficient determination (R2) root mean square error (RMSE) values between experimental predicted moisture ratios. Moisture content (MC) reduced from 19 ± 0.86% to 13 0.4% (w.b.) 5 h, dried open-sun reached same MC 15 hours. This resulted average drying rate 1.2 %.h-1 0.4 for leading net savings time 67%. Overall temperature, 41.93 2.7 °C 15.3 higher than ambient temperature. Midilli Kucuk model best describe kinetics dryer. It showed good fit data. effective diffusivity ranged 1.45 × 10-11 m2.s-1 - 3.10 m2.s-1. An activation 96.83 kJ.mol-1 determined Arrhenius-type equation.