Benali Touhami¹, Bennaceur Said¹, Atouani Toufik¹, Lammari Khelifa², Ouradj Boudjamaa², Bounaama Fateh², Belkacem Draoui², Lyes Bennamoun^3,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.073329 - 27 January 2026

Abstract The aim of this study is to design, build, and evaluate an indirect forced convection solar dryer adapted to semi-arid climate, such as that of Béchar situated in the west south region of Algeria. The tested drying system consists of a flat-plate solar collector, an insulated two-chamber drying unit, and an Arduino-controlled device that ensures uniform temperature distribution and real-time monitoring using DHT22 sensors. Drying tests were conducted on locally grown beet slices at air temperatures of 45°C, 60°C, and 80°C, with a constant air velocity of 1.2 m/s and a mass flow rate of… More > Graphic Abstract

Mohammed Benamara^1,2, Boumediene Touati³, Said Bennaceur⁴, Bendjillali Ridha Ilyas^5,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.072641 - 27 December 2025

Abstract This study explores the thin-layer convective solar drying of Marrubium vulgare L. leaves under conditions typical of sun-rich semi-arid climates. Drying experiments were conducted at three inlet-air temperatures (40°C, 50°C, 60°C) and two air velocities (1.5 and 2.5 m·s⁻¹) using an indirect solar dryer with auxiliary temperature control. Moisture-ratio data were fitted with eight widely used thin-layer models and evaluated using correlation coefficient (r), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and Akaike information criterion (AIC). A complementary heat-transfer analysis based on Reynolds and Prandtl numbers with appropriate Nusselt correlations was used to relate flow regime to drying performance, and an… More > Graphic Abstract

Guofeng Han, Chenxi Luo, Xin Liu, Yuanyuan Li, Yuling Cheng, Shuai Huang, Dan Huang^*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1981-1999, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.074593 - 31 December 2025

Abstract Bananas are highly perishable after harvest, and processing them into dried products is a crucial approach to reducing losses and adding their economic values. To address the inefficiency and prolonged duration of traditional hot air drying (HAD) and the quality inconsistency associated with single infrared drying (IRD), this study proposed a novel hot air-infrared combined drying (HAD-IRD) strategy. The effects of HAD, IRD, and HAD-IRD on the drying kinetics, color, rehydration capacity, moisture diffusion mechanism, and sensory quality of banana slices were systematically investigated. The parameters of the combined drying process were optimized using an L₉(3³)… More >

Yang Liu¹, Biao Chen¹, Xin Liu², Chenxi Luo², Shihui Xiao^2,*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 2127-2146, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.070973 - 31 December 2025

Abstract This study evaluated corn kernel drying performance and quality changes using hot air drying (HAD) and infrared drying (ID) across temperatures ranging from 55°C to 80°C. Optimal drying parameters were determined by using the entropy weight method, with drying time, specific energy consumption, damage rate, fatty acids, starch, polyphenols, and flavonoids as indicators. Results demonstrated that ID significantly outperformed HAD, achieving drying times up to 20% shorter and reducing specific energy consumption and kernel damage by up to 79.3% and 66.7%, respectively, while also better preserving quality attributes. Both methods exhibited drying profiles characterized by More >

Jiling Song¹, Hua Wang^2,*, Jianbing Guo¹, Minghua Lin², Bin Zheng^2,*, Jiqiang Wu^3,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.4, pp. 1143-1157, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.073414 - 26 December 2025

Abstract The pursuit of safer energy storage systems is driving the development of advanced electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries. Traditional liquid electrolytes pose flammability risks, while solid-state alternatives often suffer from low ionic conductivity. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) emerge as a promising compromise, combining the safety of solids with the ionic conductivity of liquids. Cellulose, an abundant and eco-friendly polymer, presents an ideal base material for sustainable GPEs due to its biocompatibility and mechanical strength. This study systematically investigates how drying methods affect cellulose-based GPEs. Cellulose hydrogels were synthesized through dissolution-crosslinking and processed using vacuum drying (VD),… More >

Chao Gui^1,2, Wanying Chang³, Yaping Liu^1,*, Leren Tao³, Daoming Shen¹, Mengyi Ge¹

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.5, pp. 1621-1637, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.072268 - 31 October 2025

Abstract Freeze-drying of structurally heterogeneous biomaterials such as porcine aorta presents considerable modeling challenges due to their inherent multilayer composition and moving sublimation interfaces. Conventional models often overlook structural anisotropy and dynamic boundary progression, while experimental determination of key parameters under cryogenic conditions remains difficult. To address these, this study develops a heat and mass transfer model incorporating a dynamic node strategy for the sublimation interface, which effectively handles continuous computational domain deformation. Additionally, specialized fixed nodes were incorporated to adapt to the multilayer structure and its spatially varying thermophysical properties. A novel non-contact gravimetric system More > Graphic Abstract

Linwei Yao^1,*, Xiangning Lin^1,2, Huashen He¹, Jiahui Yang¹

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.8, pp. 3285-3308, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.066628 - 24 July 2025

Abstract In order to address the synergistic optimization of energy efficiency improvement in the waste incineration power plant (WIPP) and renewable energy accommodation, an electricity-hydrogen-waste multi-energy system integrated with phase change material (PCM) thermal storage is proposed. First, a thermal energy management framework is constructed, combining PCM thermal storage with the alkaline electrolyzer (AE) waste heat recovery and the heat pump (HP), while establishing a PCM-driven waste drying system to enhance the efficiency of waste incineration power generation. Next, a flue gas treatment method based on purification-separation-storage coordination is adopted, achieving spatiotemporal decoupling between waste incineration… More >

Martin Nyanzi Mawejje, Jon Pocock, Santiago Septien^*

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.8, pp. 3177-3199, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.063898 - 24 July 2025

Abstract Onsite sanitation offers a sustainable alternative to centralized wastewater treatment; however, effective faecal sludge management is crucial for safe disposal and resource recovery. Among emerging treatment solutions, solar thermal drying holds significant promise to reduce sludge moisture content and enhance handling. Despite this potential, its application remains limited, with important knowledge gaps, particularly concerning the drying kinetics under different environmental and operational conditions. This study aims to fill these gaps by investigating the solar thermal drying behaviour of faecal sludge from ventilated improved pit latrines (VIPs) and urine-diverting dry toilets (UDs), with a specific focus… More >

Sadaf Gul Unar¹, Shoaib Ahmed Khatri^1,*, Nayyar Hussain Mirjat¹, Muhammad Faraz Arain¹, Syed Rafay Ahmed Zaidi¹, Laveet Kumar²

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.2, pp. 479-505, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.063937 - 25 April 2025

Abstract This research focuses on developing innovative hybrid solar dryers that combine solar Photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems for sustainable food preservation in Pakistan, addressing the country’s pressing issues of high post-harvest losses and unreliable energy sources. The proposed active hybrid solar dryer features a drying cabinet, two Direct Current (DC) fans for forced convection, and a resistive heating element powered by a 180 W solar PV panel. An energy-storing battery ensures continuous supply to the auxiliaries during periods of low solar irradiance, poor weather conditions, or nighttime. Tomatoes, a delicate and in-demand crop, were… More >

Ravendra Kumar Ray^*, A.C. Tiwari

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.83, No.1, pp. 845-860, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.059435 - 26 March 2025

Abstract The design and development of solar dryers are crucial in regions with abundant solar energy, such as Bhopal, India, where seasonal variations significantly impact the efficiency of drying processes. The paper is focused on employing a comprehensive mathematical model to predict the dryer’s performance in drying the materials such as banana slices. To enhance this model, Hyper Tuned Swarm Optimization with Gradient Tree (HT_SOGT) was utilized to accurately predict and determine the optimal size of the dryer dimensions considering various mathematical calculations for material drying. The predictive model considered the influence of seasonal fluctuations, ensuring More >