Abstract
In the present communication, a newly designed single slope photovoltaic thermal (PVT) roof type greenhouse dryer was studied. The numbers of fans have been optimized for the drying purpose in force mode. In order to optimize the number of fans for PVT roof type greenhouse dryer, experiments have been performed with varying the number of fans in operation. The thermal modeling and experimental validation for the PVT greenhouse dryer has been carried out. The energy matrices have been estimated for the present system and the characteristic curves for thermal energy and exergy have been developed. The optimum number of fan with rated capacity was found to be three in number. However, this condition is not feasible with load condition; therefore, experiments were carried out with single fan in operation. There is a good agreement between the modelled values and experimental results. The energy payback time on overall thermal energy basis for load condition is found to be 3.74 years, whereas it is 12.40 years on exergy basis. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.