Performance evaluation of cabinet solar dryer using ultraviolet (UV) sheet

Abstract

This study presents experimental investigation into a novel UV cabinet type solar dryer designed for drying banana slices at the Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University (21 27′N, 81 43′ E). An experiment for the performance assessment of banana drying was conducted at the clear sky conditions. The solar dryer consists of 6 trays with the one drying chamber. The same technique is used for forced convection drying using the fan and the PV panel. Experimentally evaluated local metrological conditions such as solar radiation, atmospheric temperature, wind speed and air humidity. In the six trays for drying, 2 kg of banana slices were evenly divided and after a period of 16 h of drying, banana slices dried in the forced convection to moisture content of 13.75 % from an initial moisture content of 86.2%. On the other hand, natural convection drying reaches to 17.5% of the final moisture content, in the same time. Moisture ratio for the forced and natural convection drying varies in the range of 0.79–0.001 and 0.85–0.05, respectively. For the forced convection drying of banana slices the optimal and minimum drying efficiency of the designed solar dryer are 16.32 % and 0.29% whereas 13.75% and 0.15% of drying efficiency for natural convection drying are measured. The more efficient is forced convection drying in comparison with natural convection drying.