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Design and Fabrication of Solar Dryer for Tomato
Abstract
The solar dryer has been specially developed and evaluated for its performance for drying of tomato slices. The loading capacity of the dryer was about 10 kg slices per batch. The drying characteristics of the dryer were studied and compared with respect to open sun drying method. The maximum temperature developed in the drying chamber of dryer was observed to be 52.63°C. Drying time for drying tomato slices from initial moisture content of 94% (wb) to final moisture content of 8.97% (wb) was recorded to be 12.5 h in said solar dryer whereas, 15 h was observed in the open sun drying. The powder was prepared from tomato slices dried in the said solar t dryer had dark red colour as compared to that for open sun-dried tomato slices powder. It was observed that the gravel with iron scrap heat storage system supplied heat to the drying chamber for 3 more hours after sunset. Thus, the extended3 hours after sun set facilitated the completion of drying in a single day.
Keywords: Solar cabinet dryer, heat storage system, flat plate solar air heater
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