Performance of turmeric dryer cabinets with LPG fuel using temperature control and air speed

Abstract

There is a huge potential of turmeric to be processed into various kinds of medicines or food products as there are still many people consuming traditional medicines and beverages for their health. Thisleads to the need of a clean raw turmeric processing, in spite of the fact that turmeric commodity grown in the high lands. The process of direct turmeric drying can not be maximal because of the low solar intensity caused by cloudy weather. If the drying process continues to constantly produce 12% water level, the turmeric medium will be damaged due to fungus arise on the surface of turmeric influenced by high humidity factor. Therefore a closed turmeric dryer with LPG fuel at a low cost is made. Using ST 37 material for the construction frame, while the inner cover uses stainless steel, and for the outside cover uses hot rolled steel sheet material. In addition, the dryer used can be controlled by air velocity and temperature in the drying cabinet and equipped with transparent glass to see the physical state of the turmeric inside. Obtained temperature during experiment is 50-550C in average with drying duration of 60 minutes with 0,15 m / s air speed and the water level obtained is 12% with the efficiency degree equal to 59%.