Design and performance evaluation of solar dryer for drying of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum)

Abstract

A solar dryer was designed, fabricated, and evaluated for drying of large cardamom (Amomum Subulatum) at College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology, Central Agricultural University, Ranipool (27° 20′ N, 88° 40′ E), Gangtok, Sikkim. It was observed that on an average 55.7% of higher temperature was obtained in the solar dryer over the ambient temperature. A total drying time of 24 h (3 sunny days) was required for large cardamom drying in the solar dryer to reduce the moisture content from 75.6% (w.b.) to 10.1% (w.b.) compared to that of 48 h for the open sun drying to obtain the same level of moisture contents resulting in a net saving of about 50% of drying time for the solar dryer in comparison to the open sun drying.