PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF AN INDIRECT ACTIVE SOLAR DRYER FOR CROP PRODUCE (PLANTAIN)

Abstract

An Indirect Active Solar Dryer (IASD) was developed for drying crop produces using locally sourced materials. Experimental research design was adopted to evaluate the performance of the solar dryer. The (IASD) was equipped with sensors to measure and record key parameters such as temperature and relative humidity real time data throughout the experiment under zero and full loading conditions. Under full loading, freshly sliced plantain fillets were uniformly spread on trays inside the solar dryer and under open sun from 9am to 6pm. The weight of the fillets was measured before and after drying to determine moisture loss on hourly basis. The collected data were analyzed. During zero loading, the solar collector and the drying chamber recorded maximum temperatures of 68.5°C and 56.3°C respectively. For minimum relative humidity, the solar collector and the drying chamber recorded 22.6% and 35.2%. The solar collector attained an efficiency of 30.4%, with an absorbed energy of 0.63 kJ. Under loading conditions, the plantain fillets followed constant rate and falling rate drying pattern. On Day 1, the cumulative moisture removed by IASD was 1.46 kg (74.8% of initial content), compared to 0.96kg (49.1%) for Open Sun Drying (OSD). The IASD reached the equilibrium moisture content required for plantain storage (15%) within 18hours (2days), while OSD took 45hours (5days). This represents a 60% reduction in drying time with the IASD, highlighting its ability to quickly and efficiently reduce moisture content to safe storage levels. This rapid moisture removal highlights the dryer’s capability to effectively reduce the moisture content of crop produces to a safe level for storage, ensuring their preservation. The study concludes that the IASD is an effective solution for drying crop produces for preservation, particularly in regions with abundant solar energy.