Design and Analysis of Solar-Operated Clothes Dryer

Abstract

Solar cloth dryers are an alternative to conventional cloth dryers; the primary purpose of this dryer is to be used in the home, and it is a modern and environmentally friendly method for drying clothes. As for the solar-powered dryer, it will use solar energy that will be converted into electrical energy that will be used to dry clothes. This process is done by collecting solar energy through PV cells and storing the energy in the battery for further use. Solid Works software was used to design the 3D model of the clothes dryer. The model was designed to increase heat-trapping capacity and provide sufficient heat to dry the clothes, reducing drying time overall. In addition, Ansys Workbench was used to perform static structural analysis, which will show the structural ability to withstand load, and steady-state thermal analysis, which will show the model's thermal ability and heat flux. As expected, the design and analysis were correct, and the model was safe for fabricating. Fewer heat losses were encountered by using insulating materials. Hence, solar energy will decrease energy consumption and enhance efficiency by reducing drying times.