Solar Drying Technology ― Concept, Design, Testing, Modeling, Economics, and Environment

This book offers a comprehensive reference guide to the latest developments and advances in solar drying technology, covering the concept, design, testing, modeling, and economics of solar drying technologies, as well as their impact on the environment. The respective chapters are based on the latest studies conducted by reputed international researchers in the fields of solar energy and solar drying. Offering a perfect blend of research and practice explained in a simple manner, the book represents a valuable resource for researchers, students, professionals, and policymakers working in the field of solar drying and related agricultural applications.

Anil Kumar is presently working as a researcher in the Energy Technology Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. On a higher study sabbatical leave he is now working in the regular post of Assistant Professor in the Department of Energy (Energy Centre), Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, India. Anil Kumar completed his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering followed by an M.Tech. in Energy Technology and a PhD in Solar Thermal Technologies. He has also received a PhD on the topic ‘Thermal Modeling of Greenhouse Dryer’ from the Centre for Energy Studies (CES), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India. He has 11 years of experience in teaching and research at international institutes. His main areas of research interest are solar thermal technology, distribution of energy generation, clean energy technologies, renewable energy application in buildings and energy economics. He has published 4 books namely, ‘Energy Environment Ecology and Society’, ‘Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering’, 'Environmental Science: Fundamental, Ethics & Laws' and 'Advance 'Internal Combustion Engine’ and holds 2 patents. He has also published more than 100 research articles in journals and at international conferences. Presently, he is a reviewer of various journals of repute. In his tenure at the NIT Bhopal, he has supervised 4 PhD and 19 masters’ students.

Om Prakash received his doctorate in Energy from the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India in 2015. He was awarded scholarship during his postgraduate and doctorate programmes. Presently, he is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India. He has published 20 research papers in international journals and eight papers in international conferences. He has also contributed four book chapters. He is a reviewer of many reputed international journals such as The Energy Report, Green Energy, Renewable Sustainable Energy Review, Ambient Energy, and Renewable and Sustainable Energy. He is working in the fields of renewable energy, energy and environment, solar energy applications, heat transfer and energy economics.