DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR DRYER FOR DRYING FRUIT

•             TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page .................................................................................................................................. i Declaration................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgment ...................................................................................................................iii Abstract.................................................................................................................................... iv  List of Tables ..……………………………………..…………………………………………x  List of Figures ..……………….…………………………………………..…………………xi 

Chapter ONE

INTRODUCTION

• ................................................................................... 1 1.
• 1.Background ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.
• 2.Problem Statement ............................................................................................................ 2 1.
• 3.Justification ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.
• 4.Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 3  1.4.1.Specific Objectives ....................................................................................................... 4 

Chapter TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• ...................................................................... 5 2.
• 1.Sun Drying......................................................................................................................... 6 2.
• 2.Solar Drying....................................................................................................................... 7 2.
• 3.Types of Solar Dryers........................................................................................................ 8  2.3.
• 1.Direct Solar Dryers...................................................................................................... 8  2.3.
• 2.Indirect Solar Dryers.................................................................................................. 14  2.3.
• 3.Mixed Mode Solar Dryers ......................................................................................... 17 2.
• 4.Hybrid Solar Dryers......................................................................................................... 21 2.
• 5.Solar Dryers with Concentrators...................................................................................... 23 2.
• 6.Materials Used for Constructing Solar Dryers................................................................. 26  2.
• 7.Gaps Identified in the Review.......................................................................................... 30 2.
• 8.Components of Solar Dryers............................................................................................ 32  2.8.
• 1.Solar Collector ........................................................................................................... 32  2.8.
• 2.Drying Chamber........................................................................................................ 33  2.8.
• 3.Chimney.................................................................................................................... 34 2.
• 9.Performance Evaluation of Dryers................................................................................... 34  2.9.
• 1.Collector Efficiency................................................................................................... 34  2.9.
• 2.Drying Efficiency....................................................................................................... 35  2.9.
• 3.Drying Rate................................................................................................................ 35  2.9.
• 4.Moisture Content ....................................................................................................... 36 

Chapter THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................... 37 3.
• 1.Design Procedure ............................................................................................................. 37  3.1.
• 1.Drying Temperature................................................................................................... 37  3.1.
• 2.Amount of Moisture to be Removed ......................................................................... 38  3.1.
• 3.Heat Energy Required to Remove Water................................................................... 38  3.1.
• 4.Sizing the Collector.................................................................................................... 40  3.1.
• 5.Collector Orientation and Tilt Angle ......................................................................... 41  3.1.
• 6.Air Flow Requirement ............................................................................................... 41 3.
• 2.Construction of the Solar Dryer....................................................................................... 42  3.2.
• 1.Collector..................................................................................................................... 42  3.2.
• 2.Drying Chamber......................................................................................................... 43  3.2.
• 3.Chimney..................................................................................................................... 43  3.2.
• 4.Backup Heater............................................................................................................ 44  3.2.
• 5.Drawing of the Dryer................................................................................................. 44 ii 3.2.
• 6.Cost of Dryer.............................................................................................................. 47 3.
• 3.Experimental Procedures and Dryer Evaluation.............................................................. 48  3.3.
• 1.Material Preparation for Drying............................................................................... 48  3.3.
• 2.Instruments Used for Data Collection...................................................................... 48  3.3.
• 3.Dryer Evaluation Tests .............................................................................................. 49  3.3.3.
• 1.No Load Test......................................................................................................... 49  3.3.3.
• 2.Solar Drying Test.................................................................................................. 50  3.3.3.
• 3.Solar Drying in Hybrid Mode Test: Backup Heater used only in the Evening .... 51  3.3.3.
• 4.Solar Drying in Hybrid Mode Test: Backup Heater used during Day Time and in the Evening ........................................................................................................................... .............................51 

Chapter FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

• RESULTS AND DISCUSSION............................................................... 52 4.
• 1.No Load Test.................................................................................................................... 52 4.
• 2.Solar Drying Test............................................................................................................. 54  4.
• 3.Solar Drying in Hybrid Mode: Backup Heater used only in the Evening ....................... 58 4.
• 4.Solar Drying in Hybrid Mode: Backup Heater used During Day Time and in the Evening ............................................................................................................................. 63 4.
• 5.Drying Rate...................................................................................................................... 67 4.
• 6.Collector Efficiency and Drying Efficiency .................................................................... 68 

Chapter FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................... 71 5.
• 1.Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 71 5.
• 2.Recommendations............................................................................................................ 72 REFERENCES...................................................................................................................... 73 APPENDIX 1: Sample Analysis of Moisture Content .......................................................... 80 APPENDIX 2: Typical Temperature and Humidity Variation with time During No-Load Test.................................................................................................................................... 84 APPENDIX 3: Solar Insulation, W/m2 (Solar Lab, KNUST)............................................... 85 APPENDIX 4: Chemical Composition of Fresh pineapple and mango ................................ 86 APPENDIX 5: Gyapa stove Sizes, Dimensions and Applications....................................... 87 APPENDIX 6: Cost of the Solar Dryer ................................................................................. 88