Design and numerical performance analysis of a Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator for solar dryer application

Design and numerical performance analysis of a Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator for solar dryer application | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Design and numerical performance analysis of a Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator for solar dryer application Bienvenu Magloire Pakouzou, Venant Sorel Chara-Dackou, Vinci de Dieu Bokoyo Barandja, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7045165/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 15 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The search for innovative solutions to improve the performance of indirect solar dryers (ISD) remains a challenge. The aim of this study is to propose a numerical approach to a Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator (PTSC) that can be coupled to a solar dryer. A proposed physical model has been analyzed from an energy, exergy and environmental point of view, based on a number of design parameters that impact the PTSC's output performance. The numerical model is simulated in Matlab with Gauss-Seidel method for simulation. Sensitivity analysis shows that a configuration with length of 2.2 m, flow rate of 0.07 kg/s, inlet temperature between 32 and 36°C gives output temperatures of around 70°C maximum and 62°C monthly average. An average of 46% and a maximum of 56% are obtained for the monthly energy efficiency. In addition, an average around of 127 Wh and a maximum around of 158 Wh are obtained for useful heat. The proposed PTSC emits an average of 302.02 gCO 2 /month. For daily operation, average daily emissions are estimated at 9.93 gCO 2 /day. Compared with other technologies used in indirect drying, the amount of CO 2 emissions from biomass is 19605.78gCO 2 /year, compared with 7618.25gCO 2 /year from solar thermal and 3624.27gCO 2 /year from the PTSC studied. This system shows promise in significantly improving the performance of environmentally-friendly indirect solar dryers. An experimental realization would be a necessary asset in the dynamics of innovative solutions for indirect solar dryers (ISD). Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator indirect solar dryer performance energy exergy ecobalance Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 09 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 01 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 29 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 22 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 21 Jul, 2025 Editor invited by journal 13 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 08 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 08 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 04 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7045165","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":489122095,"identity":"66515951-80cb-4a5e-bac0-4455c85b95a4","order_by":0,"name":"Bienvenu Magloire Pakouzou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Bangui","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bienvenu","middleName":"Magloire","lastName":"Pakouzou","suffix":""},{"id":489122096,"identity":"1a9e9417-c29d-4f4d-b7cc-253a6f08d6e2","order_by":1,"name":"Venant Sorel 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The aim of this study is to propose a numerical approach to a Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator (PTSC) that can be coupled to a solar dryer. A proposed physical model has been analyzed from an energy, exergy and environmental point of view, based on a number of design parameters that impact the PTSC's output performance. The numerical model is simulated in Matlab with Gauss-Seidel method for simulation. Sensitivity analysis shows that a configuration with length of 2.2 m, flow rate of 0.07 kg/s, inlet temperature between 32 and 36\u0026deg;C gives output temperatures of around 70\u0026deg;C maximum and 62\u0026deg;C monthly average. An average of 46% and a maximum of 56% are obtained for the monthly energy efficiency. In addition, an average around of 127 Wh and a maximum around of 158 Wh are obtained for useful heat. The proposed PTSC emits an average of 302.02 gCO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e/month. 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