Life cycle assessment and comparison of solar dryers for sustainable practices

Abstract

The environmental impacts of Solar Cabinet Dryer (CD), Corrugated Solar Conduction Dryer (CSCD) and Heat Pump Dryer (HPD) were compared through Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). The ‘Cradle-to-grave’ assessment of dryers was performed to analyze the environmental impacts caused due to the fabrication, recycling, and operation of selected solar dryers. The calculation was carried out using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint(H) and ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint(H) Life Cycle Impact assessment (LCIA) model. The endpoint assessment revealed that the Solar Cabinet dryer had a 61.37% higher impact on human health (DALY) and a 72.5% higher impact on the ecosystem (species.yr) compared to the Corrugated Solar Conduction dryer. Similarly, the Heat Pump Dryer showed a 47.7% higher impact on human health and a 54.62% higher impact on the ecosystem than the Corrugated Solar Conduction dryer. Furthermore, when considering the operation phase, all indicators of the Solar Cabinet Dryer and the Heat Pump Dryer showed greater environmental impacts. These findings highlight the significant reduction in environmental impacts associated with the CSCD, indicating its superior sustainability compared to the CD and HPD. Consequently, this study offers valuable insights into the adoption of solar food dryers that harness renewable energy sources.