5: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONThe main experiments were carried out during 1 September 2002 to 12 November 2002 at Rice Mechanization Center, Meet El-Dyba, Kafer El-Shiekh Governorate, to develop a simple device for drying some agricultural products (mint and onion) by solar-wind energy. The device was constricted at Rice Mechanization Center.The developed device consists mainly of three main partsSolar collector, drying chamber, and chimney and fan combination unitsThe objectives of the present investigation are to1: Develop of a simple device for utilizing solar-windenergy2: Determent of the optimum performance conditions forthe developed device during drying of mint and onionproducts.3: Compare the drying test developed device and direct sundrying methods( by trays )The treatments were conducted include the following parameters:1- Fan combination unit.Three fan combination units were selected to be investigate for onion and mint product as follows :Fan with 8 blade (diameter 12.5 cm ) (F1),Fan with 6 blade (diameter 12.5 cm ) (F2), and No fan (F0)2- Area of air inlet gateThree different area of the air inlet gate were tested for both onion and mint product as follows: a1 = 0. 480 m2 (1.2 x 0.04m),a2 = 0.960 m2 (1.2 x 0.08m) , and a3 = 1.440 m2 (1.2 x 0.12 m)3- Product massThe investigated product mass were 4333 and 8666 g for onion product . While they were 588, 1176, and 1764 g for mint productThe performance of the developed dryer :Four main indicators mainly:-1: The rate of water removal.2: Moisture content.3: Drying coefficient.4: Cost of during.The main results obtained from the experiment are summarized under the following main points.1: Effect of some parameters on rate of water removal.The rate of water removal by solar-wind drying using the developed device depends on several factors such as:- Fan combination units, mass products and air inlet gate. Each of these factors will be summarized as fellow:1.1: Effect of fan and mass product on rate of waterremoval.Results show that, the maximum rate of water removal was obtained at using fan (F1) with mass m3 (1764g) for mint, and the maximum rate of water removal was obtained at using fan (F1) with mass m1 (4333g) for onion.1.2: Effect of fan and air inlet gate on rate of waterremoval.Results show that, the maximum rate of water removal was obtained at using the fan (F1) with the air inlet gate a2 (0.960m2) for mint and onion .1.3: Effect of mass product and air inlet gate on rate ofwater removal.Results show that, the maximum rate of water removal was obtained at using the product mass m3 (1764g) with air inlet gate a2 (0.960m2) for mint, and the maximum rate of water removal was obtained at using the product mass m1 (4333g) with the air inlet gate a2 (0.960m2) for onion .2:The best performance operation of dryer comparingwith direct sun drying .For mint The results showed that, the best performance operation of dryer was obtained at using fan (F1) with air inlet gate a2 (0.960m2) with the mass product m3 (1764g). and for onion The best performance operation of dryer was obtained at using fan (F1) with the air inlet gate a2 (0.960m2) with the product mass m1 (4333g).2.1-The effect of developed solar-wind dryer onmoisture content comparing with direct sundrying.Result showed that the reduction of moisture content is greatly affected by developed dryer comparing with direct sun drying.For the mint after ten drying hours, moisture content decreased by 94.15%, and 75.16% under solar-wind dryer and direct sun drying respectively at the same product mass. And for onion product, after fifteen drying hours, moisture content decreased by 92.09% and 74.43% under solar-wind dryer and direct sun drying respectively at the same product mass.2.2- The effect of developed solar-wind dryer on drying coefficient comparing with direct sun drying.Results showed that the reduction of drying coefficient is realty affected by the developed dryer comparing with direct sun drying.For the mint after ten drying hours, drying coefficient were 0.563 (h-1) and 0.154 (h-1) under solar-wind dryer and direct sun drying respectively at the same product mass.And for onion, after fifteen drying hours, drying coefficient were 0.303 (h-1) and 0.107 (h-1) under solar-wind dryer and direct sun drying respectively at the same product mass.3- Cost requirement for different drying products.The cost of the different drying system is dependent on many factors due to drying conditions and drying system.the hourly cost for dryer and sun drying by trays were 0.14 and 0.12L.E./h.Cost values of drying mint were 3.31 and 5.97 (L.E./ton) under developed dryer and sun drying by trays.Cost values of drying onion, were 2.0 and 2.54l.E./ ton under developed dryer and sun drying by trays.6:RECONNENDATIONSIn order to minimize drying cost, it is recommended to use the developed solar-wind dryer for drying mint and onion under the following conditions:1: Using fan combination unit with 6 blades (F1).2: Using the air inlite gate a2 (0.960 m2 ).3: Mass of product of (1764 and 4333g ) with mint and onionrespectively.