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Drying of Pineapple Using Solar Tunnel Drier

BK Bala
Professor
Department of Biochemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M.R.A. Mondol
Scientific Officer,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

BK Biswas
Scientific Officer,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

B.L. Das Chowdury
Department of Biochemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Experiments on solar drying of pineapple using solar tunnel drier were conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The drier consists of a transparent plastic covered flat plate collector and a drying tunnel connected in a series to supply hot air directly into the drying tunnel using two dc fans operated by a solar module. This drier has a loading capacity of 120–150 kg of pineapple and a total of eight drying runs were conducted. In all the cases the use of the solar tunnel drier leads to considerable reduction of drying time in comparison to sun drying. The pineapple being dried in the solar tunnel drier were completely protected from rain, insects and dust, and the quality of the pineapple dried in the tunnel drier was of quality dried products as compared to sun dried products. Proximate analysis also indicates that the pineapple dried in the solar tunnel drier is a good quality dried product for human consumption.

Keywords: Flat plate collector, Forced convection, Pineapple, Solar module

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-10-1998

End Date: 00-09-1999

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Pineapple

Objectives:

To study the performance of solar tunnel drier for drying of pineapple

Methodology:

The solar tunnel drier was installed a Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The drier was placed on a raised platform and it was not under the shade of trees or buildings from 8 am to 4 pm. The set of full scale experimental runs on solar drying of pineapple were carried out in the month of October, 1998. September, 1999, and July and August, 2000. The experimental parameters affecting the performance of the drier were measured. The K-type thermocouple was used to measure the drying air temperature along the flow direction of the air inside the drier and pyranometer was used to measure the global radiation at the inlet of the drier. The relative humidity and ambient air temperature were measure with a digital relative humidity meter and temperature meter. The velocity of drying air temperature was measure with an anemometer at the outlet of the drier. Weight loss of the product during the drying period was measured with an electronic balance. All these data were recorded at 1 hour interval. Experimental solar drying runs were conducted on one variety of pineapple. Pineapples slices of thickness 10 mm were treated with sulfur dioxide by burning sulfur in a sulfuring box and 40 mg of elemental sulfur was burnt per kg of fresh pineapple slices. Pineapple slices were spread on the plastic net in a thin layer. The drying was started usually at 9 am and discontinued at 4 pm for each day. To compare the performance of the tunnel drier with that of sun drying, control samples of pineapple slices were places on a raised platform beside the drier. Both samples were dried simultaneously under the same weather condition.

Source of Information: Proceedings of International Conference on Mechanical Engineering held at BUET, Dhaka, Bangladesh on December, 26-28, 2001.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Three sets of full scale field level drying runs for drying of pineapple slices were conducted and the temperature of the drying air at the collector outlet varied from 34.1 to 64.0 °C during drying. This drier can be used to dry up to 150 kg of fresh pineapple. The pine dried in the drier was protected from rain, insects and dust, and the dried pineapple was a high quality product.This drier is simple in construction and it can be constructed using locally available materials by the local craftsman. The solar tunnel drier can be operated by a photovoltaic module independent of the electrical grid. The photovoltaic system has the advantage that the temperature of the drying air is automatically controlled by the solar radiation. The photovoltaic driven solar tunnel drier must be optimized for efficient operation.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings