Performance Analysis of UV Solar Dryer

Master's Thesis from the year 2023 in the subject Engineering - Mechanical Engineering, , language: English, abstract: This Master thesis discusses the performance of a tent house solar dryer when drying potato slices.

A mixed mode natural convection ultraviolet (UV) tent house solar dryer was designed and installed at University Teaching Department, Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India for drying potato slices. This solar dryer is equipped with a solar flat plate collector, covered with 5 mm thick glass and consists of two trays of the same size in a drying chamber, on which equal quantities of potato slices were placed. The local atmospheric conditions including relative humidity, atmospheric temperatures, solar intensity and wind velocity have been recorded for analyzing various parameters.

Drying with sun radiation was one of the first uses of solar energy. Since the beginning of time, it has been used mostly to preserve food, however it has also been used to dry other important items like textiles and building supplies. The first solar-powered drying device was discovered in South France and dates to around 8000 BC.

A solar dryer is a device that dries items, particularly food, using solar energy. The basic concept of solar dryers is to use solar radiation to heat air, which is used to remove moisture of food. This device also improves the quality, texture, hygiene and color of the crop and vegetables as compared to open sun drying.