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Field Performance and Economic Potential of Solar Drying Technology in Bangladesh

M. A. Zaman
Associate Professor
Department of Farm Power & Machinery, BAU, Mymensingh.

S. M. I. Hossain
Assistant Agricultural Engineer
Sugarcane Research and Training Institute, Ishurdi, Pabna.

B. K. Bala
Professor
Department of Farm Power & Machinery, BAU, Mymensingh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A simple low cost solar drying technology has been developed and evaluated in the Context of socio-economic conditions existing in the farm level of Bangladesh. The technology includes a bamboo-made box-type direct solar dryer and simple preparation techniques such as blanching and sulphuring of fruits and vegetables. The user farmers in test case were satisfied with the performance of this technology as because it produced quality solar dried products in reduced time with the minimization of loss. The utilization of the simple box-type solar dryer was economically promising for drying vegetables, chillis, grated coconut, potato chips and fish. This technology is recommended for use by the low income farmers of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Solar drying technology, Rural farmers, Low cost simple solar drying, Solar drying

Location: Mymensingh and Noakhali districts, Bangladesh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Drier

Objectives:

To develop a low cost simple solar drying technology for the rural farmers,
To evaluate the performance of this technology in field conditions
To judge the acceptance of this technology by the potential users and
To analyze the economic potential of the solar drying technology.

Methodology:

A number of places were selected from Mymensingh and Noakhali districts for field testing of the solar drying technology. These places were Maijdi Court, Char Uria and Jahajmara Char under Noakhali Sadar Upazila; Gandhi Ashram of Joyag under Begamgonj Upazila; Boira, Ghoneshaympur, Mirjapur, Bahadurpur, Mashkanda, Chatrapur and BAU campus under Mymensingh Sadar Upazila. Noakhali is in south and Mymensingh is in north-eastern part of Bangladesh. These are situated at 22.8^oN and 24.6^oN latitude respectively. The difference in mean air temperature and relative humidity between Mymensingh and Noakhali are 1 to 2o F and 1 to 4 percent respectively. It was assumed that if the solar dryers were found suitable for the climatic conditions of these two places, then these dryers would be suitable for other places of Bangladesh. Seven farmers and three non-farmer users were selected from Noakhali and Mymensingh district for field testing of the technology. Sample size was kept limited considering the problem of management and coordination arising out due to limited manpower resource. The farmers were selected in consultation with the extension workers of the BAU Extension Project, MCC and DANIDA. Among the selected farmers two were big and the others were medium considering their holding size. The selected farmers were progressive in mind and had fewer constrains than the small farmers. They were given training on the construction and use of the dryers. box-type direct solar dryer was developed and tested at BAU. Its performance was experimentally determined. The design of this dryer and the results of the experimental tests are discussed elsewhere. The design procedure for the dryer is presented. The solar dryer was constructed using locally available low cost materials. It consisted of a box enclosed by five bamboo-made panels (four on the sides and one at the bottom) and a single layer of 0.15 mm thick transparent polyethylene sheet on the top. The box was supported by a bamboo-made frame with six legs. Each panel was made of two pieces of oven bamboo mats placed one over the other with a 30 mm layer of dry paddy straw in between for heat insulation. The inner surfaces of the dryer panels were blackened by means of a sticky paste made by mixing charcoal powder with flour boiled in water. The front and the rear panels were provided with adjustable air opening for convective air flow through the dryer box. The cover was inclined at an angle of 22.60 (latitude angle) with the horizontal, Hinged doors were provided on the rear panel for loading and unloading the dryer. Food trays made of wooden frame and G. I. net were placed on the bottom panel of the dryer. During field testing of the dryers hourly readings of solar radiation, dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures and temperatures inside the dryers were measured by means of solar meter, hygrometer and thermometers respectively. Samples of the drying materials were taken to laboratories at BAU and MCC at Maijdi Court for determination of moisture content using standard air-oven method. The technical performance of the dryers were analyzed in terms of temperature rise, drying rate, material holding capacity and total drying time. Relative humidity corresponding dry bulb and wet bulb temperature were calculated by a micro-computer using the Brooker equations.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Training and Development; Vol. 6. No. 1. January. 1993 : 39-48

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

A solar drying technology consisting of a low cost solar dryer and simple preparation techniques have been developed for the rural farmers. The technology has been tested in the farmers’ field and is found useful to the farmers; because it reduces the drying time, drudgery and labour requirement and improves the quality of the dried products. It can generate employment and bring monetary benefits to the farmers, if it is adopted judicially for drying of some potential commodities such as grated coconut, potato chips, spices and fish. This technology, being very simple to use and low in cost, deserves recommendation for the extension to the rural farmers.

Knowledge Management: Journal