EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF DRYING POTATO
FOR VISAKHAPATNAM CLIMATIC CONDITION
G. Lalit Kumar, K. Karthik Pradhan , Dr. Susant Kumar Sahu, Dr. B. Arundhati,
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vignan Institute of Information Technology,
Visakhapatnam – 530046, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA.
glalitkumar143@[Link], karthikpradhan265@[Link]
Abstract:
An Experimental based analysis on the effective drying method by using an solar dryer.
Basically Solar Dryer is a device which works on the principle of one of the renewable
resource of energy which is solar energy as known the solar energy present everywhere
is a huge beneficial to all the living creatures on this planet. Effectively used as a heating
dry device to remove the water content from the materials like vegetables and also other
items like pickles pappads etc. reducing the time and increasing the productivity and
efficiency makes it more popular. In this experiment by using a vegetable sample i.e
potato we will find out the dryness of the potatoes by using a portable solar dryer. A
single slope solar dryer is used with an angle of 15 degrees resulting in a best output by
satisfying the needs of the solar dryer. Comparing to the outside temperature then inside
the rate of evaporation of the solar dryer is more efficient by 40% and resulting in fast
drying up of samples within 5 to 6 hours of maximum sunlight. During the dehydrating
process, the temperature of the system varied from 38 degree to 47 degree as the outside
temperature and varying from 38 degree to 66.7 degree as the inside temperature.
Drying time is also another major factor to note the moisture content present in the
sample after the experiment. This project presents the design and construction of the
domestic type of solar dryer composing of a air heater and a solar drying chamber of
constraining rack of rows as net trays integrated together. The air is allowed in through
the air inlet and is heated up in the solar collector and is channelled through the drying
chamber where it is used for drying the design is been fabricated according to the
geographic location of Visakhapatnam and meteorological data for proper design
specification. The latitude of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India is 17.68°, and the
longitude is 83.21°.
1. Introduction:
The potato is a starchy tuber of the plant and is a root vegetable native to the Americas
the plant is also a perennial in the nightshade family. Wild potatoes species can be found
from the southern united states to southern Chile the potato was originally believed to
have been domesticated by native people but the later origin studies traced a single
origin , in the area of present day southern Peru and extreme North western Bolivia.
According to the FAO it estimates that over 359 million metric tons of potatoes were
produced worldwide an increase in the production volume of 333.6 million tons in 2010.
Even after having a lot of production India is facing with a chronic shortage of food due
to improper handling and poor storage facilities leading to heavy post-harvest losses up
to about 35–40 %Thermal drying is a most common method of reducing moisture
content to a safe storage level that does not permit various microorganisms to grow in
the vicinity of food products, and hence, can be preserved safely for a longer period
without any wastage. Currently, convective hot air drying using fossil fuels such as coal,
diesel oil and natural gas is widely used in industrial food drying applications. The
major concerns in these methods are high energy consumption and hence an expensive
operation. In addition, there is an increasing concern in the scientific community
regarding green house gas emissions resulting in the warming of the climate system
from burning of fossil fuels especially in developing countries.[1] The scarcity of fossil
fuels along with their rising cost of production and adverse environmental impacts has
driven the use of solar energy based technologies in food. Application of solar energy
for food drying has tremendous potential in sustainable development, especially in the
countries like India where this renewable source of energy is abundantly available.
Several Drying processes using solar energy were carried out by traditional open air sun
drying and various advance solar dryers. Natural open air sun drying is the inexpensive
method of solar energy utilization that is commonly practiced in the rural areas of the
developing countries like India, where it is commonly used as a traditional food
preservation technique. Several food products like vegetables (green chillies, green pea,
onions, potatoes, and cauliflower) fruits (apricots, grapes, peaches, figs and plums )
pineapple chips and kachris can be sun dried to store them for longer period. These
products are tasty and require minimum cooking time. Similarly sun dried carrots,
cherries and cranberries can be used as an addition in salads, oatmeal, cookies, muffins,
loaves and breads. However, open air sun drying is a relatively slow process and in this
process, considerable product losses takes place due to inadequate drying, fungal
growth, encroachment of insects, birds and rodents resulting in the reduction of product
quality. Hence, properly designed solar dryers should be used for drying agricultural
products in developing countries. Several researchers have developed design principles
for various classes of solar drying.[2]
Out of the various dryer designs, the mixed-mode dryers are found to be the most
effective in terms of product drying rate and drying cost these mixed-mode solar dryers
can improve the quality of the product, while reducing the use of traditional fuels. In the
food industries thin layer drying is an important dehydration technique and the thin layer
drying equations are essential tools in mathematical modelling of drying process. They
are practical and give sufficiently reliable results. In order to understand the drying
behaviour of food product or the control of drying operation, it is necessary to determine
a suitable thin layer model. Best describing thin layer drying behaviour of potato slices
dried in a semi-industrial continuous band drier operating at air temperatures of 53, 62
and 70 °C with air velocities of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m/s and chain linear velocities of 1.85 ×
10−4, 2.22 × 10−4 and 2.78 × 10−4 m/s, respectively. The mathematical modelling of thin
layer drying of shelled and unshelled pistachio samples performed in forced and natural
convection solar assisted drying cabinet were demonstrated and they deduced that the
Logarithmic model could sufficiently describe thin layer forced solar drying of shelled
and unshelled pistachio, while the Two term model could define thin layer natural solar
drying investigated the behaviour of the thin layer drying of plantain banana, mango and
cassava experimentally in a direct solar dryer.[3]
The device is used to eliminate the moisture content from crops, vegetables and fruits. It
consists of a box made up of easily available and cheap material like
Plywood, fully transparent glass, aluminium sheet, aluminium net, small adjuster fan,
Mini LCD digital thermometer, solar panel ,black paint .Top surface of dryer fully
transparent glass . The inside surface is coloured black to absorb the incoming solar
radiation. Since the box insulated, the inside temperature. The air is ventilated through
the small holes at the top of the box. As the air gets warm, it rises by the natural
circulation process and removes the moisture from the fruits, vegetables, and the crops
placed in trays inside the box. To fill the vacuum, fresh air comes in by a forced draught
process and the process and the process continues. Solar dryers could be classified as
direct or indirect types. The former involves directly exposing the material to the sun.
While in the latter, the materials are dried by circulating hot air over it without directly
exposing the material to the sun. The merits of any solar dryer would depend upon the
type and quantity of the material to be dried. Sometimes a passive system incorporates a
wind – driven fan for the air circulation.
The dryer is essentially a hot box, in which fruit, vegetables or other material can be
dehydrated on a small scale. The advantage is that such products could be dried in peak
season and made available for consumption throughout the year. Coal, oil or firewood
are usually used in such conventional industrial dryers. The present energy crisis
compels one to think of use of alternate sources of energy and the population free.
Abundant and readily available solar energy seems to be the only answer.
Basic Principles of Solar Dryer:
The basic principles employed in a solar dryer are :
Converting light to heat : Any black on the inside of a solar dryer will improve
the effectiveness of turning light into heat.
Trapping heat : Isolating the air inside the dryer from the air outside the dryer
makes an important difference, Using a clear solid ,like a plastic bag or a glass
cover ,will allow light to enter , but once the absorbed and converted to heat ,a
plastic bag or glass cover will trap the heat inside. This makes it possible to reach
similar temperatures on cold and windy days as on hot days.
Moving the heat to the food. Both the natural convection dryer and the forced
convection dryer use the convection dryer use the convection of the heated air to
move the heat to the food.
The technology provides several socio-economic benefits. One of the main issues facing
developing countries today is the issue of food security. The solar food dryer can
improve food security through allowing the longer storage of food after drying
compared to food that hasn’t been dried. The solar dryer can save fuel and electricity
when it replaces dryer variations that require an external energy source in the form of
electrically powered dryers might provide certain benefits (more consistent air flow
and higher temperatures), the financial barriers that these technologies provide might
be too high for marginal farmers. For instance, electricity might be not available or too
expensive and fossil fuel powered drying might pose large initial and running costs.
Fruits, vegetables and meat dried in a solar dryer in a solar dryer are better in quality and
hygiene compared to fruits, vegetables and meat dried in sun drying conditions. As
mentioned, due to the closed system design, contamination of food is prevented or
minimized. In addition, the food is not vulnerable to rain and dust, compared to the open
system design of sun drying. In rural areas where farmers grow fruits and vegetables
without proper food drying facilities, the farmers need to sell the food in the market
shortly after harvesting. When food production is high, the farmers have to sell the food
at low price to prevent the food from losing value through decomposition. Therefore, the
solar food dryer might be able to prevent the financial losses farmers in these situations
face. Dried food can be stored longer and retain quality longer. Moreover, dried fruits
and vegetables might be sold ad differentiated products which possibly enhances their
market value. For example, dried meat can be processed into a variety of different
products. Drying food reduces its volume. Therefore, in combination to longer storage
times, the food is also more easily transported after drying which potentially opens up
additional markets to the producer of the food. Increasing global population, which is
projected to be more than nearly 10 billion by 2030.
1.1 Advantages of Solar Dryer :
Increased drying temperature.
Increased drying rate of the product.
Short drying time.
Preservation of product quality.
Product colour is also preserved.
Less contamination by dust, rain and insects.
1.2 Disadvantages of Solar Dryer :
The working of a solar dryer is limited to the daytime only. It fails to work without
sunlight.
During cloudy days, the working of dryer is limited due to its inability to
attain the requisite drying temperature at the day time.
The temperature attained by the dryer during the daytime is too high which
also destroys the drying product quality. Drying temperature cannot be
controlled.
2. Experimental Setup :
The fabricated exploratory arrangement operates on only single slope solar dryer and
another setup for open sun dehydrating. The solar dryer arrangement is secured and
protected with plywood of thickness 1.8cm all around (base, two sides, front side, back
side) the drying load. The top surface of the solar dryer is shut with a fully transparent
and non reflective plane glass of thickness 0.4cm of dimensions 120cm×58cm with an
inclination of 15°, which is equivalent to the latitude of the Visakhapatnam city area.
Aluminum works of 118.31cm×58.56cm of base and sides with a slant of 15° are
fabricated all around the inner walls of the solar dryer. The aluminum sheets are being
covered on the plywood all around inside of the solar dryer with the help of 1cm smalls
nails. All the sides of plywood are being attached strongly with the help of 2cm nails
and plywood gum for a strong and durable body of the solar dryer. The aluminum sheets
are being coated with fully absorbing, non reflective black paint, as it results in the good
effectiveness of turning sunlight into heat.
The outer walls of the solar dryer is also coated with same fully absorbing, non
reflective black paint, so that it can also absorb the outer heat of the solar dryer
surrounding area. 2 Aluminum Trays (Tray-1 and Tray-2) are being installed inside the
solar dryer to dry the vegetables on it during the experimentation. Tray-1 is placed at the
bottom with dimensions 110cm×56.5cm, Tray-2 is placed at the top of the Tray-1 with a
gap of 10cm between them, so that large size food materials like coconut can be easily
placed inside the tray. Both the trays can be easily pulled out from the door (backside) of
the solar dryer.
M-Seal is being used to cover the gaps and edges of the aluminum sheets for the
inevitable of the heat from inside of the solar dryer. 2 Mini LCD Temperature Sensors
of dimensions 10cm×4cm×12cm are being attached outside of the solar dryer, one
sensor is used for measuring the inside temperature of the solar dryer while
experimentation and another sensor to measure the outer surrounding temperature of the
solar dryer.
A 12V exhaustible fan is being attached at the door (backside) of the solar dryer for the
escaping of hot air, which is present inside the solar dryer during the experimentation
period or the using period of the solar dryer. A 10Watt 12V PV Solar Panel of
dimensions 34cm×30cm×4cm is being attached at the outer left side (front view) of the
solar dryer with a good support and durability to absorb the sunlight or solar energy and
converting it into electrical energy to be supplied for the functioning of the 12V small
exhaustible fan, which results in the escaping of the heat inside the solar dryer.
Fig : Team Design Planning of The Structure of The Solar Drier.
Fig : Instructions Given By The Head of The Department For The Experimental Setup
3. Results And Discussion :
The experimental results are been taken of Day-1 and Day-2 in an open ground at
day time. Day-1( with the moisture fan switched off ) highest temperature outside
the solar dryer at day time was 46.2°c and lowest temperature outside the solar
dryer at day time was 35°c. The highest temperature on day-1 reached to 46.2°c,
outside the solar dryer and 62.6°c inside the solar dryer at 13:30pm. At this time,
the weight of the potatoes inside the solar dryer was decreased from 19.11gms -
18.55gms and the weight of the potatoes outside the solar dryer was decreased
from 19.55gms – 19.26gms in a hour (12:30 – 13:30) with the moisture fan
switched off.
DAY 1
With the moisture Fan Switched Off
[Link] Time Inside Solar Dryer Outside Solar Dryer
(Hrs)
Temperature Weight Temperature Weight
(Celsius) (Grams) (Celsius) (Grams)
1. 12:30 48.8 19.11 40.6 19.55
2. 13:30 62.6 18.55 46.2 19.26
3. 14:30 62.4 18.11 46 19
4. 15:30 58 17.66 43.8 18.33
Table 3.1.1. Experimental Data of Solar dryer, Fan Off
Day-1( with the moisture fan switched on ) highest temperature outside the solar dryer at
day time was 46.2°c and lowest temperature outside the solar dryer at day time was
35°c. The highest temperature on day-1 reached to 44°c, outside the solar dryer and
59.6°c inside the solar dryer at 14:00pm. At this time, the weight of the potatoes inside
the solar dryer was decreased from 18.88gms - 18.44gms and the weight of the potatoes
outside the solar dryer was decreased from 19.05gms – 18.55gms in a hour (13:00 –
14:00) with the moisture fan switched on.
DAY 1
With the moisture Fan Switched On
[Link] Time Inside Solar Dryer Outside Solar Dryer
(Hrs)
Temperature Weight Temperature Weight
(Celsius) (Grams) (Celsius) (Grams)
1. 13:00 57.1 18.88 43.3 19.05
2. 14:00 59.6 18.44 44 18.55
3. 15:00 57.2 17.88 43.8 18.22
Table 3.1.2. Experimental Data of Solar dryer, Fan On
Day-2( with the moisture fan switched off ) highest temperature outside the solar
dryer at day time was 43.5°c and lowest temperature outside the solar dryer at
day time was 34°c. The highest temperature on day-2 reached to 43.4°c, outside
the solar dryer and 63.6°c inside the solar dryer at 12:50pm. At this time, the
weight of the potatoes inside the solar dryer was decreased from 16.88gms -
15.77gms and the weight of the potatoes outside the solar dryer was decreased
from 17.55gms – 17.11gms in a hour (11:50 – 12:50) with the moisture fan
switched off.
DAY 2
With the moisture Fan Switched Off
[Link] Time Inside Solar Dryer Outside Solar Dryer
(Hrs)
Temperature Weight Temperature Weight
(Celsius) (Grams) (Celsius) (Grams)
1. 11:50 53.3 16.88 39.9 17.55
2. 12:50 63.6 15.77 43.4 17.11
3. 13:50 56.9 14.25 43.2 16.93
Table 3.1.3. Experimental Data of Solar dryer, Fan Off
Day-2( with the moisture fan switched on ) highest temperature outside the solar
dryer at day time was 43.2°c and lowest temperature outside the solar dryer at
day time was 35°c. The highest temperature on day-2 reached to 43.2°c, outside
the solar dryer and 63.6°c inside the solar dryer at 12:50pm. At this time, the
weight of the potatoes inside the solar dryer was decreased from 17.33gms –
16.88gms and the weight of the potatoes outside the solar dryer was decreased
from 17.22gms – 16.66gms in a hour (11:50 – 12:50) with the moisture fan
switched on.
DAY 2
With the moisture Fan Switched On
[Link] Time Inside Solar Dryer Outside Solar Dryer
Temperature Weight Temperature Weight
(Celsius) (Grams) (Celsius) (Grams)
1. 10:50 44.4 17.77 40.2 17.66
2. 11:50 53.3 17.33 39.9 17.22
3. 12:50 63.6 16.88 43.2 16.66
Table 3.1.4. Experimental Data of Solar dryer, Fan On
Taking Down The Readings :
Fig 3.1: Taking Down the Obtained Values from
the Solar Dryer
Fig 3.2: Drying Potato’s in Solar Dryer
Fig 3.3: Potato’s Dried Outside the Solar Dryer for
comparison
4. CONCLUSION :
The use of Solar dryer is pretty extensive in order to dry the vegetables
and other food items especially in the rural areas of India.
As stated earlier that there would be a comparison study on the
efficiency up of drying via solar dryer and drying it outside under the
suns heat.
After taking the data for 2 Days, we have got the following statistics,
DAY 1:
Inside Solar Dryer
After Drying the Potato’s
Total Weight of the potato After Drying = 457.53
grams Weight of the individual potato = 21.65
grams
Outside Solar
Dryer After
Drying the
Potato’s
Total Weight of the potato After Drying
=465grams .
Weight of the individual potato
=22.14grams.
DAY 2:
Inside Solar Dryer
After Drying the Potato’s
Total Weight of the potato After drying = 38grams
Weight of the individual potato =18.47grams
Outside Solar
Dryer
After Drying the
Potato’s
Total Weight of the potato After Drying
=453.16grams
Weight of the individual potato = 21.58grams
Thus, having a look over the complete experimental values and
checking on to the efficiency its observed that drying up of items in
Solar Dryer seems to be more efficient and is very less time consuming,
hence keeping it safe and clean from birds and dust particles than drying
it outside directly under the sun’s rays.
References
[1] A reference
This reference has two entries but the second one is not numbered (it uses the ‘Reference (no
number)’ style.
[2] Another reference
[3] More references
