Comparative Assessment of Indirect Solar Dryer and Screw Conveyor‐Based Solar Dryer During Drying Ivy Gourd: A Techno‐Economic Analysis

This experimental study compares the performance and cost‐effectiveness of an indirect solar dryer (ISD) with a Screw Conveyor Based Solar Dryer (SBSD) used to dry ivy gourd. The drying procedure is followed at temperatures between 33°C and 49°C, with each dryer requiring 16 h to attain the necessary moisture reduction. Moreover, the average drying efficiency for ISD and SBSD is 7.82% and 7.48%, respectively. The final moisture content in ISD is measured at 8%, while SBSD is 15.97%, thereby demonstrating the superior moisture removal capabilities of ISD. Besides, the average drying rates of ISD and SBSD are 1.16 and 1.05 kg/h, respectively. The average heat supply of ISD and SBSD is determined to be 0.88 and 0.80 kW, respectively, with ISD providing 9.09% more heat than SBSD. The average mass transfer coefficient ( h m ) for ISD is 0.0049 m/s, while it is 0.0036 m/s for SBSD, showing that ISD has a 26.53% higher h m value. The specific energy consumption (SEC) values of SBSD and ISD are 0.931 and 0.924 kWh/kg, respectively. The Payback Period (PBP) for ISD is 2.16 and 7.45 years for SBSD, indicating a faster return on investment for ISD. Therefore, from the study, the findings show that the ISD has improved the drying efficiency, energy utilization, and economic feasibility for small‐scale farmers in rural areas.