Portable Solar Drying System with Inbuilt PV Module For Standalone Forced Convection Operation

Abstract

A portable solar drying system with inbuilt PV module has been designed, fabricated and installed at Rajeev Gandhi Memorial College of Engineering & Technology, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh. It is having a 1.1304 m2 absorber area and 3 m2drying area. The dryer could accommodate 10 numbers of trays of size 0.3 m2). The brushless direct current (BLDC) motor fans of two 3W capacity were operated directly from the energy generated by the PV panel of 10 W capacity installed in the solar dryer. As a part of the single batch load test performance analysis was tested using 3 kg of freshly harvested Fenugreek, Spinach, Chilli. After 6 h drying, 75 to 90 % of moisture has been removed where the solar radiation intensity measured was between 600-800 W/m2. Thus it is concluded that besides decreasing the overall transportation costs, the solar dryer with on-site efficient drying capability of food crops is highly beneficial in reducing the damage of produce and could retain sufficient nutrients.