Dynamic Behavior Forecast of an Experimental Indirect Solar Dryer Using an Artificial Neural Network

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors!

The work is interesting and certainly useful, both from a theoretical and practical point of view.

The practical application of AI principles, in particular neural network models embodied in a software package aimed at solving/forecasting energy problems at the interface with agriculture, is an urgent task.

However, despite the overall positive impression, there are a number of points that require your attention:

1. The abstract needs to be expanded. Make a transition from the problem to its solution, emphasizing the proposed solutions (without detailing the underlying solutions). It is necessary to emphasize the importance of engineering applications of artificial intelligence.

In other words, not the entire scope of work is reflected in the abstract.

2. Add another keyword, for example: forward propagation algorithm. This is important for search engines when indexing your work in information and analytical databases.

3. Please provide a rationale for the choice of mathematical apparatus - ANN, with reinforcement of the conclusion you stated - that this structure is optimal.

4. In section 2.4. - Give the structure of your proposed model. This is the most interesting thing about the work, and unfortunately, the model was left behind the scenes. If you think that the answer is hidden in line 298, then change the arrangement.

5. Unfortunately, I did not find information about the learning speed of the neural network.

For example, look at how this can be represented:

Note how this can be illustrated using the example of 2 works from the same project:

https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2020/34/e3sconf_iims2020_02009.pdf

https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2020/34/e3sconf_iims2020_02020.pdf

Please take a close look at the second and third sections, tables and graphs.

6. Give an assessment of the state of the issue under consideration. Conduct a comparison of your proposed development with existing analogues.

What are the advantages of your development over them?

7. Provide an assessment of qualitative indicators that indicate the correctness of the proposed solutions.

8. The text of the article contains stylistic errors. I recommend proofreading the document by a native speaker.

9. Section "Results" should contain methodological results.

10. The "Discussion" section should evaluate the approaches described in the Introduction section.

Otherwise, it's a decent job!

Good luck with revisions!

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Pay attention please to paragraph 8 of the section "Comments and Suggestions for Authors".

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am pleased to submit to your consideration the response to the comments on our article "Dynamic Behavior Forecast of an Experimental Indirect Solar Dryer Using an Artificial Neural Network" for publication in the AgriEngineering Journal.

First, thank you for your time and effort in evaluating the manuscript. We consider your excellent suggestions for improving the quality and interest of the manuscript. In the present document, you will find a point-by-point explanation according to the observations. Our response is blue.

Review the attached document.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

I am not a native English speaker/writer.

 

This papers seems to be interesting, but in my opinion it should be revised by the authors taking into account the following comments:

 

A-     Abstract should be improved for better and clearly description on what model is capable to predict.

A1-“This research paper develops a predictive model of a forced flow indirect solar dryer interior chamber temperature using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN).”

This sentence should be improved. “forced flow indirect solar dryer interior chamber temperature” sounds to me very long.

 

A2-“  The predictive model has 15 been successfully tested, achieving a predictor with sound capabilities.”

 

Sound??

 

 

B-Introductions should  be improved

 

B1-“  This technique  eliminates the water they contain, which inhibits the proliferation of microorganisms and hinders putrefaction.”

“They”?

 

B2-“  Furthermore, there is a vision of sustainable development so that dehydration and 32 other alternatives for food preservation, such as vacuum packaging, refrigeration, and 33 freezing, are sought to be supported using renewable energies, such as solar energy, both 34 for artisanal and industrial processes [3,4].”

 

“So that”?

 

B3”  There are two types of solar dryers with forced and natural convection. The direct solar dryer exposes the product directly to sunlight [1].”

Please improve these two sentences. Two types?

 

B4”  These types are particularly attractive as they do not require high temperatures, exhibit greater drying efficiency, and do not require energy storage.”

These types??

Why they do not require high temperature? Why they do not require energy storage?

 

B5” These systems are considered complex because the energy supplied depends on the weather conditions and the internal geometry of the dryer, as they require a ventilation system that guarantees adequate air circulation inside.”

These systems or this system?

 Complex? It should be better scientifically written…

 

 B5-“ The design, development, and analysis of the thermal behavior of solar dryers have been widely studied, mainly based on numerical simulation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).”

 

 Mainly numerical simulation? What about experimental simulation? I guess number of studies based on experimental approach are greater than studies based on numerical approach.

B6-“ These simulations are based on the heat transfer analysis in the solar collector of temperatures and air speeds inside the drying chamber [6,8].”

What about mass transfer analysis inside drying chamber?

 B7-“ Each of these papers aims to get a design that allows obtaining the ideal temperature inside the drying chamber through the evaluation of thermal performance with the appli-58 cation of mathematical models, numerical computational simulations, and experimental studies.”

This sentence should not be a new paragraph. What about ideal air humidity inside drying chamber?

 

B8-“ But due to the system's 61 complexity, it is difficult to determine the performance of the drying process.”

Drying process or solar dryer?

 B9-“ Looking for new practical alternatives to predict the air temperature inside the chamber of a solar dryer to improve the designs and optimize the operation is a challenge.”

What about air humidity inside the chamber?

 B10-“ For this purpose, a solar 89 dryer was installed, instrumented, and tested electronically.”

Tested electronically? It does not sound well.!!!

 

C1-“ The solar dryer works outdoors, facing  south with a tilt angle for the solar collector.

The solar dryer is located on the south side with a tilt angle of 24°.” Please rewrite well these two sentences.

Solar dryer is tilted?

 C2-“ For the camera, the following”

Camera or chamber?

 

C3” The solar dryer has sensors for the measurement of temperature and airflow velocity.”

Why air humidity is not being measured? It is a crucial parameter in a drying process?

 C4” Likewise, the drying chamber was arranged with a DHT22  (S5) temperature and humidity sensor with a precision of ± 0.1 ° C at its center, Fig. 2 b).”

I can not see sensor S5? Temperature or humidity? It is misleading…. It should be clear.

 C5- Where is the location of air velocity sensor?

C6-“ A weather station (Ambient Weather WIFI OSPREY WS-2902A) to measure weather 166 conditions was used, Fig. 3 a).”

Why air humidity is not being measured?

 D1- It seems the study was conducted in a solar dryer without any product being dryed.

 

 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I am not a native English speaker/writer. Anyway some written content should be well revised by authors.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am pleased to submit to your consideration the response to the comments on our article "Dynamic Behavior Forecast of an Experimental Indirect Solar Dryer Using an Artificial Neural Network" for publication in the AgriEngineering Journal.

First, thank you for your time and effort in evaluating the manuscript. We consider your excellent suggestions for improving the quality and interest of the manuscript. In the present document, you will find a point-by-point explanation according to the observations. Our response is blue.

Review the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The Authors responded to most our comments.

I don't understand why the Authors didn't heed the fifth point.

In any case, I can recommend the article for publication.