Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of solar tunnel dryer
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Date
2010-11-29
Authors
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Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani
Abstract
The solar tmmel dryer of 50 kg capacity per batch is designed and
developed at the C.A.E.T., M.A.U., Parbhani. The dryer had rectangular base
structure of size 5.19 m x 1.22 m with hemispherical roof of maximum ceiling
height 0.62 m. The frame made up of hoops of M.S. square pipes, over which 200
micron UV stabilized polythene sheet is wrapped. One end of the frame consists
of Tray opening of 9 em x 622 em size for loading and unloading the material and
free space movement. Two chimneys of 15 em diameter and 30 em height were
installed for producing draft in the dryer.
The tests were conducted from 9:00 to 17:00 h in the month of April and
May and hourly data was recorded. The performance of solar tunnel dryer was
evaluated for two conditions viz. no load condition and full load condition with
red chilly. These tests were carried out to know the trend of various operating
parameters such as temperature, solar insolation, relative humidity and moisture
content of red chilly inside and outside the solar tu1mel dryer. During load without
fan operated test 25 h required for drying total amount of red chilly, in the solar
tunnel dryer form moisture content 70.66 to 7.86 per cent (w.b). During sun
drying chilly test 31 h required for drying total amount of red chilly, fonn
moisture c~ntent of 71.12 to 7.72 per cent (w.b).The load without fan operated
test was conducted in months of April.
During fan operated load test 26 h required for drying total amount of red
chilly, in the solar tmmel dryer form moisture content of 75.26 to 7.70 per cent
(w.b). During sun drying chilly test 34 h required for drying total amount of red
chilly, form moisture content of 74.61 to 7.54 per cei1t (w.b).The load fan
operated test was conducted in month of May. The total cost of construction of
solar tunnel dryer is Rs 36,220/-.