ChimDry-Vent: Enclosed Modular Solar Chimney Dryer with Mesh-Controlled Airflow
Abstract
Community-based agricultural and marine processing industries predominantly rely on open-sun drying, exposing products to unpredictable weather, pest infestation, and hygiene degradation while consuming significant surface area. Existing enclosed solutions present clear operational bottlenecks: active solar or greenhouse dryers depend on costly external energy sources (grid electricity or auxiliary solar power), whereas conventional passive solar dryers require oversized footprints to accommodate separate solar air collectors. To address these limitations, ChimDry-Vent introduces an enclosed, modular solar chimney dryer engineered for natural, zero-energy convective dehydration. The core novelty of the innovation lies in its specialized wire mesh integration at the top exhaust outlets, which eliminates adverse cold-air inflow—a common thermal failure mode in natural-draft chimneys. By controlling airflow dynamics and preventing reverse circulation without tall vertical stacks or powered fans, the system achieves stable vertical thermal buoyancy and uniform internal temperature distribution within a compact, fully enclosed UV-resistant chamber. Available in Type-T and optimized Box configurations, the modular unit features integrated ground-level heat absorption and side-access drying racks that fit within constrained rural or SME footprints. Performance evaluations reveal significant operational benefits: ChimDry-Vent accelerates moisture reduction, attaining average drying rates of 1.41 kg/h (Type-T) and 1.47 kg/h (Box shape) compared to 1.29 kg/h for standard open sun drying. Beyond providing up to a 14% improvement in drying speed without fuel or electricity consumption, the fully sheltered environment protects perishable biomass and marine harvests from contaminants and precipitation. Backed by Malaysian Patent Application No. PI2022005388, IMAP Phase 2 commercialization funding (RM83,592), and direct industry implementation with Han Aquaculture, ChimDry-Vent offers a proven, cost-effective, and sustainable post-harvest drying technology tailored for commercial scalability and local community empowerment.
