Darshan, M BBHUVA SACHIN SANATKUMAR2023-01-142023-01-142020-11-30Th-12751https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810192307Solar-cum-biomass energy hybrid dryer, an integration of both solar and biomass energy dryer was developed for bulk drying of simarouba leaves especially in non electrified areas. The major components of the dryer are drying chamber, solar energy collection chamber and heat exchanging unit. Glazing materials (Acrylic sheet, Ethylene vinyl alcohol film, Fibre glass, Polyethylene film, Polycarbonate sheet and Polyvinyl chloride sheet) for effective harness of solar energy was selected based on an effective temperature profile inside the solar energy collection chamber. Polycarbonate sheet was found to be best due to its high temperature profile, average maximum temperature of 43.1 oC and average daily temperature of 38.4 oC. Drying of simarouba leaves using hybrid dryer was carried out and compared with sun drying, shade drying, tray drying, solar drying and biomass drying methods. Leaf moisture content was reduced approximately from 64% to 10% in all drying methods. Drying period in hybrid drying (20 h) was found to be shorter as compared to sun (32 h), shade (56 h) and solar drying (34 h). Fuel requirement for combustion of briquette for energy source was found 33% lower for hybrid dryer as compared to biomass dryer. Total cost of hybrid dryer was lower as compared to tray dryer of the same capacity. Simarouba leaves dried under hybrid dryer retained about 74.65% and 76.84% of total phenols and total flavonoids, respectively as compared to fresh leaves. Therefore, solar-cum-biomass energy hybrid dryer would be cost effective and well suitable to dry simarouba leaves in non-electrified areas.EnglishThesis