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The aim of the present study is to evaluate the thermal behavior of cylindrical modules in a thermal energy storage unit as a combined sensible and latent heat. A thermal energy storage unit is designed, fabricated, and connected to a cold and hot water supply at constant temperatures to monitor the performance of the storage unit. The thermal energy storage unit contains the cylindrical microcapsules containing paraffin waxes as a phase change material which is located inside an insulating cylinder storage tank. Water is used as a heat transfer fluid to transfer heat from a hot water reservoir to the thermal energy storage unit during the phase change material charging process and also during the discharging process water receives heat from the thermal energy storage unit. Charge tests are carried out at the constant temperature. Moreover, the effect of different inlet flow on storage unit performance is investigated. Data were analyzed using Design Expert software and regression analysis which indicated that the increase of charge inlet temperature and charge inlet flow leads to the increase of heat power, thermal performance of thermal energy storage unit, and output variables. In comparison to the heat storage system without phase change material, microcapsules phase change material can improve the heat power of the heat storage system. Also, based on the optimization process, the maximum thermal performance of 96.4% and the maximum heat power level of 1.7 kW can be achieved in the optimized condition of the charging inlet temperature of 75 °C, charging inlet flow of 1.8−4 m3/s, and discharging inlet temperature of 35 °C.

In recent years, leveraging the amount of energy loss occurring in different fields of human activity has captured the attention of researchers. Harvesting and drying processes can be integrated in order to reduce energy losses. The present research work seeks to pinpoint the association between the harvesting and drying processes as well as to make optimal use of both processes so as to decrease the level of energy loss and apply the renewable energies to the food supply chain. The olive harvesting machine was designed and evaluated, and the olives harvested in the solar dryer were placed in the solar dryer as the input materials. To obtain the evaluation of the experimental tests’ purpose, Mari cultivar was used. Following this trend was the evaluation of the olive harvesting machine and its comparison with the manual harvesting method. Having separated the olives from the tree through use of the harvesting machine designed and made, a solar dryer was used to accommodate the olives in order to make the final examination concerning any damage to olives. Findings of the study indicated up to 92% separation of the olive fruits by the olive harvester. It was also found that there is a 29.47 harvest efficiency for the olive harvester. In addition, evaluation of the solar dryer emphasized that an increase in the temperature and velocity of the inlet air results in a rapid decrease in the olive moisture.