Assessment on Hybrid Solar Dryer for an Effective Red Chili Drying Process

Abstract

This study aims to assess hybrid solar drying method for processing red pepper compared to sun drying and solar drying. Independently selecting heat variables of 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C, the temperature profiles, drying curves, thermal efficiency and effectiveness, and energy and exergy were analyzed to meet the standardized moisture content of the product as well as other features (color, vitamin C content, and β-carotene content). It was found that the drying rate decreased when the temperature rose, while the drying chamber efficiency and drying effectiveness were inversely proportional to the duration. The collector became the most efficient at 40 °C. The drying air temperature is directly proportional to utility, energy efficiency, exergy input, exergy ouput, exergy loss, exergetic efficiency, and development potential while inversely proportional to the energy utilization ratio. Drying red pepper with a hybrid solar dryer at all observed temperatures was deemed able to meet the nationally standardized water content of ≤ 10.78 %. Processing red pepper at 80 °C resulted in the L, a, and b values of color analysis of 30.37, 27.45, and 10.63 respectively, vitamin C content of 14.79 g 100 g–1, and β-carotene content of 4.43 mg 100 g–1.