Performance evaluation of indirect type forced convection solar mango dryer: A sustainable way of food preservation

Abstract

India like other developing countries adopts many food preservation technologies using fossil fuels. But the fossil fuel resource depletes over the years and is non-renewable. Therefore, solar drying technology is preferred as a sustainable method for food preservation. The present study is aimed at a sustainable livelihood initiative for drying fruits and vegetables through solar technology intervention using an indirect forced convection type solar dryer. Such a dryer of 15 kg capacity has been designed and fabricated for drying mangoes. Performance indicators such as instantaneous collector efficiency, drying efficiency, drying rate, coefficient of performance, heat utilization factor, and moisture content on a dry basis are evaluated as 59%, 32.25%, 0.15178 kg/hr, 0.77, 0.229, and 2.55 respectively by considering maximum outlet collector temperature, drying chamber temperature and atmospheric temperature. Economic indicators such as payback period and cost-benefit ratio are also evaluated as 1.439 and 2.0008 respectively. The dryer can be used by rural people of Odisha for earning their livelihood.