EXERGETIC ANALYSIS OF THE SOYBEAN DRYING PROCESS WITH SOLAR ENERGY IN HOT-HUMID CLIMATES.

The article focuses on the exergetic analysis of the soybean drying process using solar energy in hot-humid climates, specifically in Campeche, Mexico. It compares natural and forced convection solar drying methods, evaluating parameters such as exergy flow, exergy efficiency, and sustainability indicators including improvement potential, sustainability index, and waste energy ratio. Results show that natural convection drying achieved faster moisture reduction (from 70% to about 7.36%) and higher drying chamber temperatures, while forced convection exhibited higher average exergy efficiency (53.57% vs. 47.40%) and better sustainability index values. The study concludes that solar drying, particularly with natural convection, is a feasible, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method to preserve soybeans in hot-humid climates, ensuring product quality and microbial safety.