Innovative solar cabinet dryer technology

Abstract

The new solar cabinet dryer technology is designed and developed with innovative features. This dryer has unique feature of forced circulation of air with solar fans run by power generated by Solar Photovoltaic panels. The working principle of this dryer is closed large cabinet for dehydration of fruits and agri-horticultural products as processed food products. The top cover of the cabinet is fitted with transparent glazing glass through which solar radiation passes into the cabinet chamber and simultaneously incident on solar photovoltaic panels of suitable wattage. The cabinet chamber always maintains between 20–30°C higher over the ambient on good sunny days resulting in maximum temp. 70°C due to green house effect. The forced circulation created by the solar fans will give the maximum efficiency of the dryer. Basing on this principle, the different sizes of the dryers were designed and successfully operated in the dehydration process. 70 commercial products of fruits, vegetables and non-timber forest produce were processed in these dryers. The results were tabulated and stored in the data bank. The operation of these dryers resulted in zero energy cost and protected the climate by sizable volume of reduction carbon emission.