Comparison Drying Behavior of Seaweed in Solar, Sun and Oven Tray Dryers

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to analyze and compare the drying behavior of seawage experimentally in solar dryer, sun dryer and oven dryer. Seaweeds with moisture content of 70% have been cleansed of impurities attached and washed with fresh water. The solar dryer tool is made of glass and iron shaped dryer and box, where the solar collector is made of black painted iron plate. The results showed that the air temperature in solar dyrer was higher than the ambient. The air humidity relative in the solar dryer is lower than the ambient. Drying seaweed by solar dryer method can dry the material up to 12.2% water content within 16 hours, and faster than sun dryer method. Energy utilization per kg of material for solar dryer, sun dryer and oven dryer is 1493 kJ / kg, 1338 kJ / kg, and 1620 kJ / kg, respectively. The quality of the product by the solar dryer method produces the best dried seaweed products in terms of color, aroma and contaminants in the product.