Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana

In this study, the performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana is presented. A solar dryer with a polycarbonate plates cover on a flat plate collector was constructed and it was designed in the parabolic shape. A polycarbonate cover is used to reduce heat losses w...

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Main Authors: S. Nabnean, P. Nimnuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-12-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X20305293
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spelling doaj-fc60a0968d384ce3b8d57a92ecba0bb62020-12-21T14:47:28ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2020-12-0122100787Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying bananaS. Nabnean0P. Nimnuan1Division of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thepsatri Rajabhat University, Lopburi, 15000, Thailand; Corresponding author.Division of General Education, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, ThailandIn this study, the performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana is presented. A solar dryer with a polycarbonate plates cover on a flat plate collector was constructed and it was designed in the parabolic shape. A polycarbonate cover is used to reduce heat losses while allowing the incident solar radiation to transmit into the dryer. Five batches of banana were dried in this solar dryer during January–July 2019. For each batch, 10 kg of bananas were dried. The results shown that the temperature of the drying air in the dryer varied between 35 °C to 60 °C from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The moisture content of the banana in the dryer was reduced from an initial value 72% (wet basis, wb) to a final value of 28% (wb) within 4 days, whereas the moisture content of the sun dried samples was reduced to 40% (wb) in the same period. There was a considerable reduction in drying time in the solar dryer as compared to natural sun drying with 48% saving drying time. High quality of solar dried product in terms of flavor, colour and texture were obtained. The payback period of the dryer is approximately 1.1 years.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X20305293Solar dryerPerformanceSolar radiationPolycarbonate platesWet basis
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author S. Nabnean
P. Nimnuan
spellingShingle S. Nabnean
P. Nimnuan
Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Solar dryer
Performance
Solar radiation
Polycarbonate plates
Wet basis
author_facet S. Nabnean
P. Nimnuan
author_sort S. Nabnean
title Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana
title_short Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana
title_full Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana
title_fullStr Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana
title_full_unstemmed Experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana
title_sort experimental performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana
publisher Elsevier
series Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
issn 2214-157X
publishDate 2020-12-01
description In this study, the performance of direct forced convection household solar dryer for drying banana is presented. A solar dryer with a polycarbonate plates cover on a flat plate collector was constructed and it was designed in the parabolic shape. A polycarbonate cover is used to reduce heat losses while allowing the incident solar radiation to transmit into the dryer. Five batches of banana were dried in this solar dryer during January–July 2019. For each batch, 10 kg of bananas were dried. The results shown that the temperature of the drying air in the dryer varied between 35 °C to 60 °C from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The moisture content of the banana in the dryer was reduced from an initial value 72% (wet basis, wb) to a final value of 28% (wb) within 4 days, whereas the moisture content of the sun dried samples was reduced to 40% (wb) in the same period. There was a considerable reduction in drying time in the solar dryer as compared to natural sun drying with 48% saving drying time. High quality of solar dried product in terms of flavor, colour and texture were obtained. The payback period of the dryer is approximately 1.1 years.
topic Solar dryer
Performance
Solar radiation
Polycarbonate plates
Wet basis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X20305293
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