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Development of Solar Cabinet Drier for Drying of Fruits and Spices

M Ayub Hossain
Senior Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Post harvest Process Engineering Division Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Gazipur-1701

K C Roy
Chief Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Post harvest Process Engineering Division Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Gazipur-1701

M Nurul Amin
Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Post harvest Process Engineering Division Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Gazipur-1701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A solar cabinet drier equipped with a solar chimney and a fan was designed and fabricated. The temperature rise in the drier was measured and compared with the ambient temperature. The average temperature rise in the drier was about 17.43°C above ambient temperature. The drier (large) was tested for drying of local plum and compared with small cabinet drier and open sun drying method. In 37 hour of drying time, moisture content of plum reduced from an initial moisture content of 71.3 to final moisture content of 25.2, 28.2 and 31.87% (wb) in large solar drier, small solar drier and in open sun drying method. Significantly highest drying rate (t-test) was obtained from large solar drier followed by small solar drier and open sun drying method. The loading capacity of the large and small drier was 20 and 8 kg respectively of fresh plum per batch. This drier may be tested for other fruits, vegetables and spices.

Keywords: Airflow, collector, dryer, efficiency, fruits, temprature, spices.

Location: Gazipur

Start Date: 01.07.2002

End Date: 30.06.2005

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity:

Objectives:

(i) To design and construct a cabinet solar dryer for drying of fruits and spices (ii) To improve the performance of solar cabinet drier by increasing airflow. (iii)To test the performance of the drier for drying of fruits and spices and compare the results with the traditional sun drying method.

Methodology:

The drier was designed by solving the energy balance equations based on maximum expected solar radiation and maximum allowable drying temperature for fruits, vegetables and spices. Then the drier was fabricated in the laboratory of FMP Engineering Division using locally available materials such as wood, hardboard, angle bar, flat bar, plain sheet, transparent polyethylene cover etc. The drier was divided into two compartments for easy loading and unloading. The products to be placed in thin layer on wire net tray in each of the compartment. A chimney was built in the top-middle of the drying chambers to exhaust the evaporated moisture. A six inches PV operated dc fan was provided to increase the air flow from the drier. The schematic view of the solar cabinet drier is shown in Fig. 1. The drier was tested for drying of local plum during the month of February 2005. Two experimental runs were carried out during the period of 6 to 11 February and 16 to 23 February 2005 respectively. In the first experimental run, solar drying of plum was compared with the open sun drying and in the second run solar drying (solar drier in this study termed as 'large drier') was compared with small solar drying (developed by Roy and Sheel, 2002) and open sun drying. Ambient temperature and air temperature in the drying chamber were measured using copper-constantan thermocouple at one hour interval. Weight loss of plum during drying was measured using an electronic balance with an accuracy of ï‚± 0.01 g. The moisture content of plum was determined by gravimetric method.

Source of Information: Research Report

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The average temperatures rise in the large and small solar drier were 17.63 and 10.57°C respectively above ambient temperature. Significantly highest drying rate was obtained from the large solar drier followed by small solar drier and open sun drying. The loading capacity of the large and small drier was 20 and 8 kg respectively of fresh plum per batch. The dried plum in the solar drier was dust and dirt free and appearance was better than the open sun dried product.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings