Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract
Based on preliminary investigations under controlled conditions of
drying experiments, solar tunnel dryer and solar cabinet dryer with turbo-
ventilator were designed and constructed to dry tomato and green onion
leaves. Solar tunnel dryer (STD) design uses direct sunlight and has low
resistance to airflow. STD is weather protected food dehydration tunnel
that can dry food economically and hygienically. Solar cabinet dryer with
turbo-ventilator (SCD) is an innovative design with natural draught
induced with turbo-ventilator. Turbo-ventilator runs on external wind and
creates necessary draught and maintains good airflow through the solar
dryer giving excellent performance. As the turbo-ventilator works on
outside wind only, no power is required and unit is truly a renewable
energy gadget. This paper describes the design considerations followed
and presents the results of calculations of design parameters. A minimum
of 6 ft2 (0.557m2) solar collector area is required to dry a batch of 2-5 kg
sliced vegetables in 6-10 hours (~two days drying period). The average
initial and final moisture content considered were ~95% and ~10% wet
basis, respectively. The average ambient conditions are 35ºC air
temperature and 56% relative humidity. The weather conditions
considered are of Southern Yangon Region, Myanmar. Tomato and green
onion leaves were chosen systematically prepared and dehydrated. Their
characteristics such as pH, acidity, moisture content, color, ash content,
fibre content, sugar content and rehydration ratio were determined.
Introduction
Sun drying is still the most common method used to preserve
agricultural products in most tropical and subtropical countries. However,
being unprotected from rain, wind-borne dirt and dust, infestation by
insects, rodents and other animal, products may be seriously degraded to the
extent that sometimes become inedible and the resulted loss of food quality
in the dried products may have adverse economic effects on domestics and
international markets. Some of the problems associated with open-air sun
drying can be solved through the use of a solar dryer which comprises of
collector, a drying chamber and sometimes a chimeny. The conditions in
tropical countries make the use of solar energy for drying food practically
Air ducts convey heated air from the 6 ft2 (0.557m2) solar collector
to below the drying trays, allowing heated air to rise through the bottom of
the polyethylene shade cloth.
cabinet and leaves the drying chamber through the top turbo-ventilator.
Cool environment air is sucked off through the bottom opening. Turbo-
ventilator works on outside wind and exhausts air from drying cabinet
inducing draught. The solar dryer only works with direct solar radiation and
works best during dry periods when there is little humidity in the air.
16.5”
16”
4.5”
2”
45”
Turbo-
ventilator
Drying
Tray
Solar
Collector
Table (1) Design Conditions and Assumptions of Solar Tunnel Dryer for
Tomato and Green Onion Leaves
Green Onion
Conditions Tomato
Leaves
Location EYU Campus EYU Campus
Drying Period November November
Loading Rate(mp) (kg) 5 2
Initial Moisture Content (Mi) (%w/w) 95.86 96
Final Moisture Content (Mf) (%w/w) 14 7.94
Ambient Air Temperature (Tam) (ºC) 37 37
Ambient Relative Humidity (RHam) (%) 56.7 42.8
Maximum Allowable Temperature (ºC) 48 46
Drying Time (td) (hr) 9.5 5.5
Wind Speed (m/s) 0.36 0.36
Thickness (mm) 5 5
406 Universities Research Journal 2011, Vol. 4, No. 3
Table (3) Values of Design Parameters for Solar Tunnel Dryer for Tomato
and Green Onion Leaves
Parameters Tomato Green Onion Leaves
Initial Humidity Ratio ,wi (kg H2O/kg dry air) 0.015 0.018
Initial Enthalpy, hi (kJ /kg dry air) 73.7 78.33
Equilibrium Relative Humidity ,RHf (%) 59 46.5
Final Humidity Ratio ,wf (kg H2O/kg dry air) 0.024 0.025
Final Enthalpy, hf (kJ /kg dry air) 86.1 100.9
Mass of Water to be Evaporated, mw (kg) 4.76 1.91
Average Drying Rate, mdr (kg H2O/hr) 0.50 0.35
Air Flow Rate, ma (kg dry air/hr) 71.4 50
3
Volumetric Air Flow Rate, Va (m /hr) 59.5 41.6
Total Useful Energy, E (MJ) 18.55 8.95
2
Solar Collector Area, Ac (m ) 0.557 0.557
Universities Research Journal 2011, Vol. 4, No. 3 407
Table (4) Values of Design Parameters for Solar Cabinet Dryer with
Turbo-ventilator for Tomato and Green Onion Leaves
Green Onion
Parameters Tomato
Leaves
Initial Humidity Ratio ,wi (kg H2O/kg dry
0.015 0.014
air)
Initial Enthalpy, hi (kJ /kg dry air) 73.7 66.5
Equilibrium Relative Humidity ,RHf (%) 56.4 51.4
Final Humidity Ratio ,wf (kg H2O/kg dry air) 0.021 0.024
Final Enthalpy, hf (kJ /kg dry air) 89.1 106.78
Mass of Water to be Evaporated, mw (kg) 2.86 0.95
Average Drying Rate, mdr (kg H2O/hr) 0.286 0.158
Air Flow Rate, ma (kg dry air/hr) 47.7 15.8
3
Volumetric Air Flow Rate, Va (m /hr) 39.75 13.2
Total Useful Energy, E (MJ) 7.34 1.434
2
Solar Collector Area, Ac (m ) 0.696 0.696
way, they were dried in solar cabinet dryer with turbo-ventilator at 45ºC for
about 10 hours to obtain complete drying.
Method of Preparation of Dehydrated Green Onion Leaves
Mature green onion leaves were trimmed to
remove the undesired portions (bulb and roots),
followed by washing and cutting into small pieces
(5mm). Consequently the weighed pieces were
blanched for 15 minutes in steam vapour and then
dipped in 1% sodium bicarbonate solution for about 5
minutes at room temperature (adapted from Yi Yi Myint et. al., (2007)).
Finally they were then dried in solar tunnel dryer (46ºC) for 5.5 hours and
another way, they were dried in solar cabinet dryer with turbo-ventilator at
46ºC for about 6 hours to obtain complete drying.
Methods of Analysis
The essential determinants, showing the quality of each type of
dehydrated leaves including, pH, moisture content, ash content, fibre
content, colour, acidity, sugar content, total solid content, rehydration ratio
and organoleptic properties were investigated.
solar tunnel dryer with taller peak height has a larger air volume to absorb
water vapour but it takes longer to heat the volume of air. The taller peak
height also has less wind resistance allowing faster air flow, but the path of
airflow is higher above the drying trays with less mixing of moisture-laden
air at the drying tray. A shallow peak height has a smaller volume to absorb
water vapour but the smaller volume heats up faster and the airflow is
directed closer to the drying tray to remove the moisture from the products.
So, the peak height of 1ft (30.48cm) is chosen for this solar tunnel dryer.
The amount of produce place in the dryer also affects the humidity in the
dryer and the drying rate.
The solar cabinet dryer is an indirect dryer by inserting blackened
galvanized plate directly beneath the clear glass cover and which removes
the exposure of the crop to direct sunlight. If the drying trays are in any way
over-packed, air flow is obstructed and crop spoilage occurs. Dryers of this
type must be used with care. An exhaust fan such as turbo-ventilator, fitted
at the top of the cabinet can facilitate air movement through such dryers.
This unit does not require external power because of use of turbo-ventilator.
The characteristics of fresh and dehydrated (tomato and green onion
leaves) such as colour, ash content, fibre content, pH, total solid content,
sugar content and rehydration ratio can be seen in Tables (5) and (6). In
Table (5), colour of the dehydrated tomato using SCD was nearly equal to
fresh tomato. With STD, red and yellow color were reduced. Table (6) show
that colour of dehydrated green onion leaves using SCD was nearly equal to
those using STD. The increase of color intensity after dehydration was
reduced in solar tunnel dryer than solar cabinet dryer. This was due to the
direct heat and low resistance to air flow in solar tunnel dryer. Other
characteristics of dehydrated products were increased because of
dehydration. The effect of the type of dryer on the characteristics of
dehydrated fruits and vegetables are recorded in Table (7). The results point
out that solar cabinet dryer with turbo-ventilator was more favourable for
dehydration of fruits and vegetables because indirect and forced convection
can retain better characteristics than solar tunnel dryer. As solar tunnel dryer
is direct and natural convection dryer, flavour of the products were slightly
reduced than with solar cabinet dryer with turbo-ventilator.
410 Universities Research Journal 2011, Vol. 4, No. 3
(ii)
(i)
(i) (ii)
Figure (8) Dehydrated Green Onion Leaves Using (i) Solar Tunnel
Dryer (ii) Solar Cabinet Dryer with Turbo-ventilator
412 Universities Research Journal 2011, Vol. 4, No. 3
Conclusion
Solar dryers are very usable and it will help the community to have
nutritious processed food. Solar driers are simple in construction and can be
constructed using locally available materials such as glass, wood,
galvanized plate, bamboo and plastic, by the local craftsman. Solar cabinet
dryer with turbo-ventilator is an indirect, forced-convection solar dryer.
Solar tunnel dryer is a direct, natural convection solar dryer.
The quality of the dehydrated products using solar cabinet dryer
with turbo-ventilator is superior in color than those using solar tunnel dryer
since solar cabinet dryer is indirect and good ventilation. Solar cabinet dryer
with turbo-ventilator can be used for many types of fruits and vegetables
with good quality in color and flavor. Solar tunnel dryer can also be used
for fruits and vegetables whose quality is independent of color and flavor.
Based on this research work, the farmers in rural areas can also use simple
solar drying technique in their farm to preserve their home-grown
vegetables after harvesting and the products can be used in off-season.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to U Kyaw Ye’ Tun, Rector, East
Yangon University, Dr. Mar Lar Aung, Pro-Rector and Dr. Kyaw Kyaw Khaung, Pro-
Rector, East Yangon University, for their permission and the financial support in this
research work. We are deeply indebted to Dr. Yee Yee Win, Professor and Head of the
Industrial Chemistry Department, East Yangon University, for giving permission to use
research facilities in the department. We are grateful to Dr. Than Htaik, Director General
(Retired), Department of Cottage Industry and Dr. Yi Yi Myint, Professor, Department of
Industrial Chemistry, Yadanarbon Univeristy (Former Associate Professor, Department of
Industrial Chemistry, East Yangon University) for their kind help in construction of solar
cabinet dryer with turbo-ventilator. Thanks are also extended to the teaching staff,
especially, Daw Naw Zar Htwe, Daw Aye Thida, Daw Soe Wai Phyo and Daw Myat Yu
Maw, Demonstrators of Industrial Chemistry Department, East Yangon University for their
help in carrying out this research.
Universities Research Journal 2011, Vol. 4, No. 3 413
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