ABSTRACT

Drying is the oldest method of preserving agricultural products and it is an energy intensive process. High prices ·and shortages of fossil fuels have increased the emphasis on using alternative renewable energy resources. Drying of agricultural products using renewable energy such as solar energy is environmental friendly and has little environmental impact. Development of solar drying has brought a techniques and equipment for fast drying of various agricultural product foods. Product dried in solar dryer are superior in quality (colour and flavour). Though the same superior quality product can be obtained by using electricity or electrical power, but the electric operations are expensive and are not within the reach of our rural and tribal population.

Solar dryer is an equipment for drying agricultural product under controlled conditions. The controlled drying means controlling the parameters like drying air, temperature, humidity, drying rate and air flow rate. The cost of production for this project work is ~188, 000. 00.