Takagi Sugeno fuzzy modeling applied to an indirect solar dryer operated in both natural and forced convection

• Published in: Renewable energy 2019-04, Vol.133, p.849-860
• Main Authors: Zoukit, Ahmed, El Ferouali, Hicham, Salhi, Issam, Doubabi, Said, Abdenouri, Naji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fuzzy logic; Indirect solar dryer; Multi-model; Renewable energy; Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy modeling
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.10.082

System modeling is required to develop, analyze and predict the performance of solar facilities. Indirect solar dryers are typical systems as they are nonlinear and operate under floating weather conditions. In this paper, a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy (TSF) model is used to predict the temperature inside the drying chamber for any season either in natural or forced convection. First, several experimental tests were performed on the studied dryer to establish its static and dynamic characteristics for different weather conditions. Second, measurements of the temperature inside the drying chamber were conducted around some operating points in both natural and forced convection. Around some chosen operating points, linear transfer functions was identified. The TSF system was used to combine all the identified linear models to develop a global one. Experimental tests were set up and used to evaluate the reliability of the developed model. The predicted behaviors are identical to the experimental ones with an RMSE (RMSE%) that remains under 0.4 °C (0.81%) in natural convection and 0.52 °C (1.94%) in forced convection. The developed TSF model leads to predict the thermal behavior in the dryer accurately and in very short time compared to other often used modeling techniques. •An indirect solar dryer was considered.•Static and dynamic characteristics of the solar dryer was established.•TS fuzzy model of the solar dryer based on local linear models was developed.•Validation of the proposed model was established in natural and forced convection.