Recommissioning and Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Solar-Electric Drying System

Overview

MMPE has a hybrid solar drying rig comprising a solar collector, drying chamber, electric backup heater, thermal storage unit, blower, and an integrated control system. This project requires to diagnose, repair, and recommission the system, then use it to generate validated performance data.

Research engagement

The student will engage with:

• Literature review of solar drying system design, thermal storage integration, hybrid solar-electric control strategies, and standard instrumentation for temperature, humidity, solar irradiance, airflow, and moisture measurement.
• Lab-based diagnostic work, physically inspecting and testing the collector, dryer, heater, thermal storage, blower, wiring, and sensors to identify faults.
• Instrumentation and calibration, repairing or replacing non-functional sensors and verifying measurement accuracy.
• Control system review, checking and, where necessary, reprogramming or rewiring the control system governing the heater, blower, and thermal storage.
• Experimental testing, running the recommissioned system to collect performance data once operational.

Research activities

The student will:

• Conduct a full audit of the existing system, cataloguing which components, sensors, and instruments are functional, faulty, or missing.
• Diagnose and repair or replace faulty sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, irradiance, airflow, moisture) and reconnect/verify data acquisition wiring.
• Test and, if required, reprogram the control system so the blower, electric heater, and thermal storage operate correctly, including any automatic switching logic between solar and electric heating modes.
• Develop a basic testing/commissioning procedure and safety check before operating the system with product samples.

Research skills

The student will gain skills in:

• Practical instrumentation: sensor selection, wiring, calibration, and troubleshooting for thermal and environmental measurement.
• Hands-on mechanical/thermal system diagnostics and repair.
• Experimental design and data acquisition for thermal systems.
• Data analysis and performance evaluation of hybrid renewable-energy-assisted drying systems.
• Technical documentation, including producing a system commissioning report and operating procedure for future users.

Outcomes

The project aims to:

• Restore the solar drying rig to full working order, with all sensors and instruments functioning and verified.
• Produce a documented commissioning and operating procedure enabling future students and researchers to use the system reliably.
• Generate baseline experimental performance data characterising the system's solar and electric heating contributions, thermal storage behaviour, and drying performance.

Skills and experience

The student will gain skills in:

• Practical instrumentation: sensor selection, wiring, calibration, and troubleshooting for thermal and environmental measurement.
• Hands-on mechanical/thermal system diagnostics and repair.
• Experimental design and data acquisition for thermal systems.
• Data analysis and performance evaluation of hybrid renewable-energy-assisted drying systems.
• Technical documentation, including producing a system commissioning report and operating procedure for future users.
• Practical project management skills relevant to hardware-based engineering projects.

5. Outcome

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

QUT GP

Contact

Azharul Karim

0422343395

azharul.karim@qut.edu.au