Title: Performance evaluation of solar tunnel dryer for grape drying

Authors: N.S. Rathore; N.L. Panwar; Bhawana Asnani

Addresses: College of Dairy and Food Science Technology, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan) 313 001, India. ' Department of Renewable Energy Sources, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan) 313 001, India. ' College of Dairy and Food Science Technology, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan) 313 001, India

Abstract: This paper presents the performance of solar tunnel dryer to dry chemically untreated grape. Average air temperature rise in dryer was in the range of 20-21°C above the ambient temperature and it was almost constant in the dryer. The solar tunnel dryer of size 10 × 3.75 m² is in position to dry 320 kg of grapes from 85% (wb) moisture content to 16% (wb) moisture content within seven days. Developed solar dryer works at temperature between 55-70°C, therefore, there is scope for saving conventional fuel by adoption of solar energy-based drying operation.

Keywords: solar tunnel dryer; grape drying; drying rate; moisture content; chemically untreated grapes; solar energy; solar power; renewable energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2012.043904

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2012 Vol.3 No.1, pp.1 - 10

Accepted: 27 Apr 2010
Published online: 29 Oct 2014 *

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