Design, Analysis and Performance Evaluation of Indirect Solar Dryer

Sammanfattning: Food production is a critical component of global livelihoods and economic revenue. However, storing harvested food presents challenges in minimizing post-harvest losses. Among various methods, food drying has emerged as a popular technique for preserving food during off-seasons. The Solar Food project aims to design an affordable solar-powered food dryer that enhances the drying process and maintains the nutritional content of the food. The study focuses on designing and evaluating an improved solar fruit dryer with a larger absorber area. It incorporates a low-density polyethene heat exchanger, a drying chamber, a heat storage system, and an air circulation fan. Various parameters, including drying rate, energy efficiency, and the quality of dried fruits, are analyzed to assess the dryer’s performance. Results indicate that using a superior internal fan increases the drying rate of apples, and variations in drying rates are observed among differently positioned trays. Plastics prove to be efficient heat exchangers in the solar fruit dryer, achieving high efficiency with minimal flows. The application of heat storage in the drying process initially absorbs energy and subsequently provides energy to the system after two hours of drying. The study suggests that employing better internal fans can reduce discrepancies in drying rates among different trays. The research contributes to the development of an improved solar fruit dryer by enhancing drying efficiency and minimizing post-harvest losses. These findings pave the way for more sustainable and effective food preservation methods, benefiting agricultural communities worldwide.