%0 Journal Article
%T Analysis and Testing of a Natural Convection Solar Dryer for the Tropics
%A A. O. Adelaja
%A B. I. Babatope
%J Journal of Energy
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/479894
%X Solar dryers are imperative for the tropical and sub-Saharan African countries, which are faced with the duo challenges of inadequate electrical energy supply, which has severely limited the application of conventional refrigeration as a means of preservation of agricultural produce, and the need to make produce competitive in the international market. In this study, a cost-effective natural convection solar dryer was developed; the thermal and drying analyses were done and tested to obtain some performance evaluation parameters for the system in order to examine its efficiency and effectiveness by drying some plantain fillets. The collector and system efficiencies are found to be 46.4% and 78.73%, respectively, while a percentage moisture removal of 77.5% was achieved at the 20th hour in order to give final moisture contents of 15.75% in the product, which still maintained its integrity. With a cost of about $195.00, it has been affordable for the small- and medium-scale enterprises as well as for private use in domestic applications. 1. Introduction Sun drying is the most common, economical and environmentally friendly method of preservation of agricultural produces in the tropical and sub-Saharan African regions. Open sun drying, however, has some disadvantages, of which are, undue exposure of produce to weather elements such as rain, ultraviolet rays of the sun, and contamination by wind-borne dirt and dust. Others include infestation by insects, rodents, pests and other animals as well as degradation by mucus and bacteria. These, for a long time, had made agricultural produce consumed locally, and those meant for export to fall short of the required hygienic and international standards, and hence, they are very often uncompetitive. Obviously, lack of effective preservation technology is a major stumbling block for farmers in the tropics and sub-Saharan African regions, as electricity is either inadequate or unaffordable to the small-scale farmers, thus discouraging refrigeration of the farm produce. This has left most farmers, particularly those engaged in small- and medium-scale farming, with no other option than to depend on one of the most abundant and free primary energy resources¡ªthe sun. Faced with the challenges of inadequate supply of electricity, on one hand, and the need to make farm produce competitive in the international market, on the other hand, the closest solution option is the use of solar dryer. This drying technique is in no way a new concept. Over the past four decades, there has been a steady evolution of solar dryer
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jen/2013/479894/