Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysis

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a cabinet-type solar dryer with naturally convection drying specifically for Indian gooseberries. One notable advantage of utilizing a passive solar dryer is its reliance on natural energy sources, such as solar heat and radiation. By harnessing an...

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Main Authors: Chhotelal Prajapati, Tanuja Sheorey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154323001916
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author Chhotelal Prajapati
Tanuja Sheorey
author_facet Chhotelal Prajapati
Tanuja Sheorey
author_sort Chhotelal Prajapati
collection DOAJ
description A study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a cabinet-type solar dryer with naturally convection drying specifically for Indian gooseberries. One notable advantage of utilizing a passive solar dryer is its reliance on natural energy sources, such as solar heat and radiation. By harnessing and utilizing solar energy, the dryer significantly reduces the need for external energy inputs, resulting in lower operational costs and a reduced environmental footprint. This eco-friendly approach contributes to the adoption of sustainable and resource-efficient drying practices. The study involved testing Indian gooseberries in both sliced and unsliced forms within a direct-type passive solar dryer. The aim was to assess their moisture ratio, drying rate, and moisture transport phenomena. Over the drying process, the moisture content of 4.2 kg of Indian gooseberries decreased from an initial moisture content of 78% wet basis (w.b.) to a safe moisture content of 5% w.b. The moisture transport phenomena greatly influenced the shape and size of the drying product, which in turn affected the drying rate. It was observed that sliced gooseberries exhibited a higher effective moisture diffusivity compared to unsliced ones during the drying process. In the solar cabinet dryer, sliced gooseberries dried at a faster rate than unsliced gooseberries. Additionally, the study revealed that the quality of the dried gooseberries produced in the solar dryer surpassed those dried in open sun conditions. In conclusion, passive solar dryer operating at higher temperatures facilitate quicker moisture removal. The findings highlight the potential of utilizing solar dryer for efficient and superior drying of gooseberries, leading to improved product quality.
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spelling doaj.art-451e65e984704d7abefbeb058791fabe2023-12-20T07:37:00ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432023-12-0114100684Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysisChhotelal Prajapati0Tanuja Sheorey1Corresponding author. CFD & Microfluids Lab, Mechanical Engineering Department, PDPM, Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur, 482005, India.; CFD & Microfluidics Lab, Mechanical Engineering Department, PDPM, Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, 482005, IndiaCFD & Microfluidics Lab, Mechanical Engineering Department, PDPM, Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, 482005, IndiaA study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a cabinet-type solar dryer with naturally convection drying specifically for Indian gooseberries. One notable advantage of utilizing a passive solar dryer is its reliance on natural energy sources, such as solar heat and radiation. By harnessing and utilizing solar energy, the dryer significantly reduces the need for external energy inputs, resulting in lower operational costs and a reduced environmental footprint. This eco-friendly approach contributes to the adoption of sustainable and resource-efficient drying practices. The study involved testing Indian gooseberries in both sliced and unsliced forms within a direct-type passive solar dryer. The aim was to assess their moisture ratio, drying rate, and moisture transport phenomena. Over the drying process, the moisture content of 4.2 kg of Indian gooseberries decreased from an initial moisture content of 78% wet basis (w.b.) to a safe moisture content of 5% w.b. The moisture transport phenomena greatly influenced the shape and size of the drying product, which in turn affected the drying rate. It was observed that sliced gooseberries exhibited a higher effective moisture diffusivity compared to unsliced ones during the drying process. In the solar cabinet dryer, sliced gooseberries dried at a faster rate than unsliced gooseberries. Additionally, the study revealed that the quality of the dried gooseberries produced in the solar dryer surpassed those dried in open sun conditions. In conclusion, passive solar dryer operating at higher temperatures facilitate quicker moisture removal. The findings highlight the potential of utilizing solar dryer for efficient and superior drying of gooseberries, leading to improved product quality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154323001916Solar dryingCabinet dryerOpen sun dryingMoisture diffusivityIndian gooseberryDryer efficiency
spellingShingle Chhotelal Prajapati
Tanuja Sheorey
Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysis
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Solar drying
Cabinet dryer
Open sun drying
Moisture diffusivity
Indian gooseberry
Dryer efficiency
title Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysis
title_full Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysis
title_fullStr Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysis
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysis
title_short Exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries: An experimental analysis
title_sort exploring the efficacy of natural convection in a cabinet type solar dryer for drying gooseberries an experimental analysis
topic Solar drying
Cabinet dryer
Open sun drying
Moisture diffusivity
Indian gooseberry
Dryer efficiency
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154323001916
work_keys_str_mv AT chhotelalprajapati exploringtheefficacyofnaturalconvectioninacabinettypesolardryerfordryinggooseberriesanexperimentalanalysis
AT tanujasheorey exploringtheefficacyofnaturalconvectioninacabinettypesolardryerfordryinggooseberriesanexperimentalanalysis