Development of novel cabinet solar dryer using UV sheet and its performance evaluation: An experimental study

Abstract

In this present paper, the experimental study of novel designed ultraviolet (UV) sheet cabinet type solar dryer has been developed at Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh (21˚ 27′ N, 81˚43′ E) for drying banana slices. For this analysis, local weather condition such as solar radiations, atmospheric temperature, wind speed and humidity of air were collected. The solar dryer is designed with drying chamber using six (06) numbers of trays at upper, middle and lower part of chamber using dimensions as 57 cm × 58 cm (2 Tray), 57 cm × 90 cm (2 Tray) and 57 cm × 111 cm (2 Tray), respectively. The same setup has been designed with fan and PV panel for forced convection drying. 2 kg of banana slices were equally distributed in the six (06) trays for drying. It was found that in forced convection, banana slices reaches to equilibrium moisture content of 13.75% (wet basis) from 86.2% (wet basis) of initial moisture content in just 16 h of drying time. Whereas in the same time it reaches to 17.5 % (wet basis) and 17.7% (wet basis) of final moisture content for natural and open sun drying, respectively. It was also observed that the highest temperature was achieved by upper tray. Forced convection drying is the most efficient way of drying when compared to natural and open sun drying.