Design and Utilization of Solar Collector for Drying Agricultural Products

농산물(農産物) 건조(乾燥)를 위(爲)한 태양열(太陽熱) 집열기(集熱機)의 제작(製作) 및 이용(利用)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

In order to improve the quality of traditionally sun-dried red peppers and to increase the efficiency of drying performance, three types of solar dryers were designed and built, and drying performance of the solar dryers was compared to traditional sun drying. Results obtained from the experiment are summarized as fallows: 1. The air temperature and relative humidity profiles over a 8-hour period measured at the specified locations in the drying chamber of solar dryers appeared to have large variation in each dryer. The rate of drying increased with the temperature rise in the drying chamber of the solar dryer. 2. In general. drying with solar dryers proceeded faster than traditional sun drying. With A'-type of solar dryer developed in the second experiment it was possible to dry red peppers in seven days from an initial moisture content of 80% to safe storage conditions. The drying time with the A'-type solar drier was 50% shorter compared to traditional sun drying. 3. Red peppers appeared to have an increasing or constant-rate drying period until the weight of the product was reduced to about one half the initial weight, followed by a falling-rate drying period. When the dried red peppers were exposed to the atmospere during the night, the moisture content increased as much as 6%, which is much higher than for the grains. 4. It was suggested from the experiment that either a heat storage system or a supplemental heating system in the solar dryer was desirable for more efficient drying operation. 5. It was shown that the solar dryer developed in this study may be suitable for drying other vegetables and fishes, and also offered additional advantages of saving in drying time, maintaining sanitation and minimizing contamination by dust, insects and unfavorable weather condition.