scholarly journals Performance Evaluation of an Inflatable Solar Dryer for Maize and the Effect on Product Quality Compared with Direct Sun Drying

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 7074
Author(s):  
Janvier Ntwali ◽  
Steffen Schock ◽  
Sebastian Romuli ◽  
Christine G. Kiria Chege ◽  
Noble Banadda ◽  
...  

Maize is an important staple in Africa, which necessitates immediate drying to preserve the postharvest quality. The traditional drying of maize in the open sun is prone to adverse weather and extraneous contamination. In this study, the drying performance of an inflatable solar dryer (ISD) was compared to direct sun drying (DSD) in Gombe Town, Wakiso District (Uganda) by analysing the moisture content, yeasts, moulds, aflatoxin, and colour. The maximum temperature inside the ISD reached 63.7 °C and averaged 7 °C higher than the ambient temperature. Maize was dried using both methods to a moisture content below 14% after two days. In one of the received maize lots that was already heavily contaminated after harvest, drying with DSD and ISD reduced the aflatoxin content from 569.6 µg kg−1 to 345.5 µg kg−1 and 299.2 µg kg−1, respectively. Although the drying performance in terms of drying time and product quality regarding colour, yeast, and mould was similar for both drying methods, the advantage of ISD in reducing the risk of spoilage due to sudden rain is obvious. A strategy for the early detection of aflatoxins in maize is recommended to avoid contaminated maize in the food chain.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Owusu-Kwarteng ◽  
Francis K. K. Kori ◽  
Fortune Akabanda

The objective of this work was to determine the effects of blanching and two drying methods, open-sun drying and natural convection solar drying, on the quality characteristics of red pepper. A 2 × 3 factorial design with experimental factors as 2 drying methods (open-sun drying and use of solar dryer) and 3 levels of pepper blanching (unblanched, blanched in plain water, and blanched in 2% NaCl) was conducted. Dried pepper samples were analysed for chemical composition, microbial load, and consumer sensory acceptability. Blanching of pepper in 2% NaCl solution followed by drying in a natural convection solar dryer reduced drying time by 15 hours. Similarly, a combination of blanching and drying in the solar dryer improved microbial quality of dried pepper. However, blanching and drying processes resulted in reduction in nutrients such as vitamin C and minerals content of pepper. Blanching followed by drying in natural convection solar dryer had the highest consumer acceptability scores for colour and overall acceptability, while texture and aroma were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the different treatments. Therefore, natural convection solar dryer can be used to dry pepper with acceptable microbial and sensory qualities, as an alternative to open-sun drying.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masnaji R. Nukulwar ◽  
Vinod B. Tungikar

Abstract The objective of this study is to find an optimized thin-layer mathematical model suitable for drying kinetics of turmeric. Turmeric has a high moisture content which necessitates effective drying. A 10 kg, sample batch, of turmeric was dried in a solar dryer. Drying air temperatures and air velocity were observed in the range of 55 °C–68 °C and 0.7 m/s–1.4 m/s, respectively, in the drying experiments. It is seen that the moisture content of the turmeric is reduced from 77% to 11.93% in 22 h when compared with open sun drying, which required 60 h for the same reduction in the moisture content. Scheffler dish was used to generate steam for the dryer. Seven thin-layer mathematical models, cited in the literature, had been used for the study. These models were applied for different trays placed in the dryer. The result of the research and experimentation showed that the Page model fits best for drying in the steam-based dryer and open sun drying. Experimental results showed 63.33% saving in drying time, and the drying efficiency was found as 29.85%. Uncertainty in the drying efficiency was observed as 0.67%. Experimental investigation and the findings from the mathematical modeling are presented in this paper.


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.


Author(s):  
P. Sivamma ◽  
E. Mounika ◽  
K. Carolin Rathinakumari ◽  
G. Senthil Kumaran ◽  
B. Bindu

Solar greenhouse drying is a method of removing moisture from the food material in which drying medium is solar energy which is easily available and low in cost for farmers. The solar energy is decreases in the monsoon months in comparison to non-monsoon months. The decrease in the solar energy results in lower temperatures in the solar greenhouse dryer. The aluminium foil which has 88% reflectivity, reflects the radiation inside solar greenhouse dryer and heats the air inside dryer and maintains heat for longer times.Aluminium foil was applied on eastern, western and southern walls of the dryer and the parameters viz; temperature and relative humidity were recorded in both modified solar greenhouse dryer, solar greenhouse dryer and ambient conditions. Assessment of temperature in ambient condition, solar greenhouse dryer with and without modification showed the maximum temperature difference between solar greenhouse dryer without modification and ambient condition was about 11.5°C whereas 17.5°C maximum temperature difference between modified solar greenhouse dryer and ambient condition. The dryer was able to reduce moisture content of onion from initial moisture content of 679 per cent dry basis to 5.7 per cent in 31 h of drying whereas the traditional sun drying was able to reduce moisture content of onion from initial moisture content of 679 per cent dry basis to 29 per cent in 31 h of drying time. The results showed a considerable advantage of solar dryer over the traditional open sun drying method in term of drying rate and less risk for spoilage.


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>


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Yuwana Yuwana

Experiment on catfish drying employing ‘Teko Bersayap’ solar dryer was conducted. The result of the experiment indicated that the dryer was able to increase ambient temperature up to 44% and decrease ambient relative humidity up to 103%. Fish drying process followed equations : KAu = 74,94 e-0,03t for unsplitted fish and KAb = 79,25 e-0,09t for splitted fish, where KAu = moisture content of unsplitted fish (%), KAb = moisture content of splitted fish (%), t = drying time. Drying of unsplitted fish finished in 43.995 hours while drying of split fish completed in 15.29 hours. Splitting the fish increased 2,877 times drying rate.


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.


Author(s):  
A.O. Adelaja ◽  
S.J. Ojolo

The photovoltaic (pv) forced convection solar dryer comprises the solar collector, dryer and pv assemblies. It is designed for a continuous operation throughout the day. The direct solar irradiation is utilized during sunshine hours and it automatically switches power supply to the battery during cloud covers and non-insolation periods. The inclusion of a heat reservoir enables heat transfer to continue during this period. In this study, thermal and dryer analyses were done. Experimental investigations were carried out to evaluate the performance of the system by drying plantain chips. The useful power collected was found to be, 391.50W, collector efficiency, 65.6%, dryer efficiency, 39.6%, average drying rate during insolation, 0.0169kg/hr and total drying time was 23 hours. The maximum temperature attained was 55oC. The average drying non insolation period was 0.0112kg/hr. The capital cost is less than $350.


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.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document