scholarly journals Development and performance evaluation of a solar tunnel date dryer in Oman

Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Basunia ◽  
Hamid H. Al-Handali ◽  
Mohammed Issa Al-Belushi ◽  
Mohammad Shafiur Rahman ◽  
Osman Maghoub

Taking into consideration the date harvesting and landholding capacities of the marginalized rural farmers in Oman, a 12 meter long and 2 meter wide tunnel was designed and constructed to dry about 180-200 kg of freshly harvested dates per batch. Half of the tunnel base was used as a flat plate air heating solar collector and the other half as a dryer. The drying air was forced from the collector region (South side) to the drying region (North side) of the half circled tunnel where the product is to be dried. The drying temperature could be easily raised by some 5-30 oC above the ambient temperature inside the tunnel at an air velocity of approximately 0.5 m/sec. The test was conducted with 190.2 kg freshly harvested dates with initial moisture content of 32.8% (wet-basis) to analyze the performance of the dryer. The dates were dried to a final average moisture content of 18.6% (wet-basis) within two days (20 hours). The results indicated that the drying was faster in a solar tunnel dryer than the natural open air sun drying. It was possible to reach the moisture content level for safe storage within less than two days (20 hrs) with a solar tunnel dryer and 5-7 days in open air natural sun drying. The improvement in the quality of dates in terms of color and brightness was distinctly recognized. 

Author(s):  
C. M Badgujar ◽  
O. S. Karpe ◽  
S. R. Kalbande

A commercial solar tunnel dryer (STD) was evaluated for drying of sprouted moth beans and also its techno-economic analysis was carried out. The maximum temperature 58ºC was recorded at 13:00h in STD during the drying process i.e. 41.0% (34.2ºC) higher than the maximum ambient temperature at the same time. A total drying time of 13:50h were required in STD to reduce the initial moisture content from 177.7% dry basis (d.b) to a final moisture content of 16.6% (d.b). However, the open sun drying took 16.5 drying hours to obtain desired moisture content. The net present worth and cost-benefit ratio of dryer was Rs.5,83,910.68/- and 1.19, respectively. However, the payback period for STD was 15 month 8 days. The cost economics of dried products were proved better for STD than open sun drying method. STD samples were found to be of good quality in terms of color, taste and aroma as compared to open sun dried (OSD) with an overall drying efficiency of STD was 19.7%. Therefore, the evaluated solar tunnel dryer were recommended for the drying of sprouted moth beans.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjoo Arjoo ◽  
Yadvika Yadvika ◽  
Y.K. Yadaadav

This paper presents dying efficiency and performance of the solar tunnel dryer for drying of garlic. The dryer is a tunnel like semi-cylindrical in shape, poly house made up of UV-stabilized polyethylene sheet. The capacity is large enough that it can be used to dry 400 kg of garlic under controlled environmental conditions. The temperature inside the dryer was always higher than the ambient and the variation varied from 8-30 ºC. Initial moisture content of garlic was reduced from 66 % (w.b.) to about 9 % (w.b.) in 9 days which is considered to be a safe level. During the drying process the average thermal efficiency of the drier was estimated to be about 13.45 %. Drying time was considerably reduced with the use of a solar tunnel drier and pressing of the sample. Also, the final dried garlic was found to be good in terms of quality and sensory evaluation shows that it is highly acceptable.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-233
Author(s):  
KB Uddin ◽  
MS Reza ◽  
MN Islam ◽  
M Kamal

Studies were conducted to investigate the influence of salt treatment on the drying performance of commercially important marine fish, silver jewfish (Otolithes argentatus) in a Hohenheim-type solar tunnel dryer. Different brine concentrations viz., 0%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% were used, where fish were treated for 12 hr after sorting, grading, dressing and washing. Temperature inside the dryer varied from 36 to 55ºC with an average air velocity of 1.5 m/s. Moisture content of fish was reduced to 16% and it was found that the use of salt in silver jewfish significantly reduced the drying period in solar tunnel dryer to 34 hr compared to those of 40 hr for control fish. Moisture content of 10% salt treated sample decreased rapidly compared to other salt treated samples where moisture content reduced to below 16% within 34 hr. This indicates that addition of salt in raw material reduced drying time as well as improves the quality of the final product. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v12i1.21416 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 12(1): 227-233, June 2014


Agrotek ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson Palelingan Aman

<em>A research about cocoa beans drying used solar tunnel dryer with photovoltaic module driven have conducted in Manokwari. Solar tunnel dryer used in this research adapted from type Hohenheim with photovoltaic module and integrated air heat collector has been installed at the Department of Agricultural Technology, Papua State University Manokwari to dried cocoa beans. The objectives of this research were to design solar tunnel dryer and evaluate it�s performance in dryed cocoa beans. The result obtained was a new construction of solar tunnel dryer for cocoa beans with dimensions 6 m of length and 0,9 m of wide. The dryer completed with photovoltaic module to drive the blowers of hot drying air. �Performance test of the dryer showed that drying of 10 kg of cocoa beans with initial moisture content about 70% wet basis needed 13 hours of drying time to achieved final moisture content about 7,17% wet basis. The drying time achieved was faster compared than traditional solar drying that needed 20 hours of drying time. The maximum temperature achieved in drying chamber was 60 <sup>o</sup>C.</em>


Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Alfeo ◽  
Diego Planeta ◽  
Salvatore Velotto ◽  
Rosa Palmeri ◽  
Aldo Todaro

Solar drying and convective oven drying of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) were compared. The changes in the chemical parameters of tomatoes and principal drying parameters were recorded during the drying process. Drying curves were fitted to several mathematical models, and the effects of air temperature during drying were evaluated by multiple regression analyses, comparing to previously reported models. Models for drying conditions indicated a final water content of 30% (semidry products) and 15% (dry products) was achieved, comparing sun-drying and convective oven drying at three different temperatures. After 26–28 h of sun drying, the tomato tissue had reached a moisture content of 15%. However, less drying time, about 10–11 h, was needed when starting with an initial moisture content of 92%. The tomato tissue had high ORAC and polyphenol content values after convective oven drying at 60 °C. The dried tomato samples had a satisfactory taste, color and antioxidant values.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-360
Author(s):  
Athul Fadhli ◽  
Diswandi Nurba ◽  
Raida Agustina

Abstrak. Jagung merupakan tanaman penghasil karbohidrat terpenting. Pengeringan jagung pipil menggunakan alat pengering merupakan proses untuk menghasilkan jagung pipil yang siap diolah untuk pembuatan tepung jagung dengan batas kadar air tertentu sehingga menghaslkan jagung pipil dengan kualitas yang baik. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengkaji karakteristik pengeringan biji jagung menggunakan alat pengering surya Termodifikasi. Metode penelitian  menggunakan 3,15 kilogram jagung pipil dengan kadar air awal 22% untuk proses pengeringan. Parameter yang dianalisis terkait alat pengering kolektor surya yaitu temperatur, kelembaban relatif, kecepatan udara dan iradiasi surya, sedangkan parameter yang dianalisis terkait bahan yaitu kadar air, lama waktu pengeringan, laju pengeringan dan organoleptik. Prosedur penelitian terdiri dari pengujian kosong dan pengujian dengan menggunakan jagung pipil. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa temperatur rata-rata dalam rak pengering sebelum dilakukan modifikasi yaitu 44,4oC, temperatur rata-rata setelah dilakukan modifikasi yaitu 55,5oC dan temperatur rata-rata rak pengering pada pengeringan menggunakan jagung pipil yaitu 46,96oC. Kelembaban relatif rata-rata dalam rak pengering sebelum dilakukan modifikasi yaitu 40,1%, kelembaban relatif rata-rata dalam rak pengering setelah modifikasi yaitu 35,1% dan kelembaban relatif rata-rata pengeringan menggunakan jagung pipil yaitu 44,45%. Dari hasil pengukuran tersebut menunjukkan bahwa nilai temperatur dan kelembaban pada alat setelah modifikasi lebih baik dibandingkan sebelum alat dimodifikasi. Pengukuran temperatur dan kelembaban relatif terdiri dari 4 titik pengukuran yaitu rak 1A,1B dan rak 2A, 2B. Kecepatan udara rata-rata yang diukur konstan yaitu 0,7 m/s pada ruang pengering, sedangkan lingkungan 1,1 m/s. Total iradiasi surya selama pengeringan yaitu 1848,84 W/m2. Kadar air jagung pipil masing-masing rak yaitu rak 1A 14,29%, rak 1B 14,47%, rak 2A 13,91% dan rak 2B 14,1%. Hasil dari pengujian organoleptik, panelis agak menyukai jagung pipil yang dikeringkan menggunakan alat pengering tersebut.Characteristics of Seed Drying (Zea mays L.) Using a Modified Adriyarkara Solar DryerAbstract. Corn is the most important carbohydrate plant. Drying corn using a drying tool is a process to produce corn that are ready to be processed for making corn flour with a certain water content limit so as to produce corn with good quality. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of drying of corn kernels using a modified solar dryer. The research method used 3,15 kilogram of corn milled with the initial moisture content of 22% for drying process. The parameters analyzed in relation to solar collector dryers are temperature, relative humidity, air velocity and solar irradiation, while the parameters analyzed are materials such as moisture content, drying time, drying rate and organoleptic. The research procedure consists of unloaded testing and testing using corn. The results showed that the average temperature in the dryer tray before modification was 44,4°C, the average temperature after modification was 55,5°C and the average temperature of the dryer tray on drying using corn was 46,96oC. The average relative humidity in the dryer tray before modification is 40,1%, the average relative humidity in the dryer tray after modification is 35,1% and the average relative humidity of drying using corn is 44,45%. From the measurement results show that the value of temperature and humidity in the tool after modification is better than before. Measurement of temperature and relative humidity consist of 4 point of measurement that is tray 1A, 1B and tray 2A, 2B. Average mean air velocity measured is 0,7 m/s at the dryer room, while the environment is 1,1 m/s. Total solar irradiation during drying is 1848,84 W/m2. Moisture level of corn each shelves tray 1A is 14,29%, tray 1B is 14.47%, tray 2A is 13,91% and tray 2B is 14,1%. As a result of organoleptic testing, panelists rather like dried corn using the dryer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 215 ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Henrique Denzin Tonoli ◽  
Guilherme Fernando Carmello ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Fioroni ◽  
Tiago de Lima Pereira ◽  
Gustavo Rocha ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
AR. Umayal Sundari ◽  
P. Neelamegam ◽  
C. V. Subramanian

The objective of this research work is to design and develop a forced convection solar dryer using evacuated tube air collector and study its performance on bitter gourd in Thanjavur District, Tamilnadu, India. The designed solar dryer consists of a drying chamber, evacuated tube air collector, a blower, and a chimney. Drying parameters, moisture ratio and drying rates, are calculated and their performance is compared with natural sun drying. The results of the present study show that the proposed solar dryer has greater efficiency, and the moisture content of bitter gourd is reduced from 91% to 6.25% in 6 hours as compared to 10 hours in natural sun drying. In this solar dryer, the products are uniformly dried, and the moisture content of the sample is controlled. It is found that the quality of the dried bitter gourd using solar dryer is higher than the natural sun-dried bitter gourd.


Author(s):  
A. Narmilan ◽  
G. Niroash ◽  
M.I.M. Mowjood ◽  
A.T.A. Akram

Background: Sun drying is a popular post-harvest operation to maintain rice quality during the storage period. Farmers use different pads and thicknesses for sun drying of paddy in Ampara district, Sri Lanka. A study was conducted to evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of the drying pad and thickness as practiced by local paddy farmers during the sun drying process.Methods: The grain with an initial moisture content of 28% (dry basis) was sun dried with four types of drying pads and five levels of thickness of grain. This experiment was conducted between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka in August 2020. The moisture contents of the grain were measured at regular time intervals.Result: It was found that the duration of drying of paddy from 28% to 13% moisture content on a dry basis was 300 to 540 minutes depending upon the drying pad and thickness. The tarpaulin is reasonable at shallow thickness with less time to reach the necessary moisture level than other drying pads. Black polythene and fertilizer bag can be utilized for sun drying of paddy at 4 cm thickness with 130 minutes. It was found that with an increase in the thickness of paddy from 0.5 cm to 4 cm, the drying time increases. A statistically significant interaction was obtained between drying pads and thickness level on moisture removal of paddy. Therefore, the moisture removal rate differs with the drying pad and thickness of the paddy under open sun drying.


Author(s):  
M Kamruzzaman ◽  
S Khatun ◽  
A Rakib ◽  
MI Hoque ◽  
MH Rani

The experiment was conducted to investigate the seed quality of Indian spinach for three months stored at different containers (Plastic pot, polythene bag and cloth bag) during 2013-2014 at Seed Technology Laboratory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur. The initial moisture content of the seed was 9.89% with 75.00% germination. However, after two months, the seed had a different range of increased moisture content with reduced germination percentage depending upon the packing materials. Among the three containers, seeds stored at cloth bag absorbed more moisture (14.36%) from surrounding atmosphere followed by the moisture content, 12.67% and 11.50% of polythene bag and airtight plastic pot, respectively. Seeds stored at plastic pot, polythene bag and cloth bag exhibited 65.00, 64.00 and 50.00 per cent germination, respectively. Similarly, the fresh weight and dry weight of seedling and seedling vigor were also decreased. The seeds of plastic pot were good in term of germination capacity, fresh and dry weight and vigor index in comparison to those stored at cloth bag and polythene bag.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 5 (2): 51-57, December, 2015


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