Abstract

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to construct the solar drying system with evacuated tubular solar collector and to investigate its performance in comparison with indoor and outdoor dryings. Methods: Solar drying system was constructed with using CPC (compound parabolic concentrator) evacuated tubular solar collector. Solar drying system is mainly composed of evacuated tubular solar collector with CPC reflector, storage tank, water-to-air heat exchanger, auxiliary heater, and drying chamber. Performance test of solar drying system was conducted with drying of agricultural products such as sliced radish, potato, carrot, and oyster mushroom. Drying characteristics of agricultural products in solar drying system were compared with those of indoor and outdoor ones. Results: Solar drying system showed considerable effect on reducing the half drying time for all drying samples. However, outdoor drying was more effective than indoor drying on shortening the half drying time for all of drying samples. Solar drying system and outdoor drying for oyster mushroom showed the same half drying time. Conclusions: Oyster mushroom could be dried easily under outdoor drying until MR (Moisture Ratio) was reached to about 0.2. However, solar drying system showed great effect on drying for most samples compared with indoor and outdoor dryings, when MR was less than 0.5.

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