Exergy and environmental analysis of an active greenhouse dryer with Al2O3 nano-embedded latent heat thermal storage system: An experimental study

•Performance of GD-NeLHTSU is analyzed by using Al2O3 nano-embedded TES.•Specific moisture extraction rates are 1.37 and 1.20 kg/kWh, with and without nanoparticles.•Average exergy efficiencies of GD were 3.45% and 2.74% with and without nanoparticles.•Energy payback time is between 2.34 and 2.92 years.•Mean annual CO2 emission is between 33.04 and 34.28 kg/year. In this study, influences of integrating nanoparticles into paraffin-based latent heat thermal energy storage system on the thermal and drying behaviors of a greenhouse dryer have been analyzed. The major goal of this survey is improving the drying performance of a greenhouse dryer by employing nano-embedded latent heat storage unit. In this regard, two even-span greenhouse dryers have been produced and modified with paraffin-based and Al2O3 nano-embedded paraffin-based thermal energy storage units. Tests have been conducted at two flow rates that are 0.010 kg/s and 0.016 kg/s. According to the findings, average specific moisture extraction rates for the systems with and without nanoparticles were attained between 1.01 and 1.37 and 0.83–1.20 kg/kWh, respectively. Average exergy efficiency metrics were found as 3.45% and 2.74%, respectively in the test done at 0.016 kg/s flow rate for the greenhouse dryers with and without nanoparticles. These values were found as 3.01% and 2.40%, respectively in the test conducted at 0.010 kg/s. In addition, energy payback time, mean annual CO2 emission and net CO2 mitigation in lifetime values were obtained between 2.34 and 2.92 years, 33.04–34.28 kg/year and 8.45–9.08 tons, respectively. Results indicated the successful utilization of Al2O3 nanoparticle-embedded latent heat storage unit in a greenhouse dryer.