PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF INDIRECT TYPE SOLAR DRYER FOR DAUCUS CAROTA (CARROTS)
Authors: K. Raju Yadav, K. Lavanya, Shashikumar, D. Rajkumar and S. Gobika
K. Raju Yadav: Department of Agricultural Engineering, RVS TCC – Coimbatore
K. Lavanya: Department of Processing and Food Engineering, Dr. NTR CAE, ANGRAU, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh.
Shashikumar: Department of Agricultural Engineering, REVA University – Karnataka 560 064
D. Rajkumar: Department of Agricultural Engineering, RVS TCC – Coimbatore
S. Gobika: Department of Agricultural Engineering, RVS TCC – Coimbatore
ABSTRACT
Indirect-type dryers present an optimal solution by addressing crop preservation challenges while maintaining their nutritional quality, resulting in increased profitability for farmers. These dryers utilize both sensible and latent heat storage materials for energy retention. Comprising a solar flat plate air collector with a clear glass cover, an insulated drying chamber, and an exhaust chimney, the dryer boasts a cabinet surface area of 0.273 square meters and collector dimensions of 1.62 meters in length, 0.60 meters in width, and 0.36 meters in height. In practice, carrot slices experienced moisture reduction from 90% to 4.6% within 16 hours of drying at temperatures ranging from 41 to 47 degrees Celsius, outperforming sun drying, which achieved a moisture content reduction from 90% to 5.4% over 20 hours at temperatures ranging from 37 to 41 degrees Celsius. Efficiency testing yielded 31.5% with load tests and 65% without load tests for the collector.
Keywords: Collector efficiency, Chimney, Drying rate, Latent heat, Solar dryer.