Journal of FARM SCIENCES, Vol 30, No 4 (2017)

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Development of solar dryer and its performance evaluation by drying of mushroom

ONKAR BABAR, PITAM CHANDRA

Abstract


Study on solar drying of mushrooms was carried under Indian climatological conditions. The study was conductedin geographical location of Sonepat, Haryana (28.87’ N, 77.13’ S) in month of June. The solar dryer for the drying ofagricultural produce were fabricated using wooden plies. The dryer was evaluated for its efficiency with mushroom drying.2.5 kg of mushroom were dried using fabricated dryer. Solar drying was compared with open sun drying for percent timereduction. It helped to reduce the drying time by 36 % than that required in open sun drying. Solar dryer took 21 hrs fordrying of mushroom up to 5.9 % (wb) final moisture content, on the other hand 33 hrsrequired with open sun drying toreach same amount of final moisture from initial 91 % (wb). The efficiency was calculated accounting correction as collectorheat removal factor (FR). The rated efficiency was observed when dryer was receiving maximum amount of direct solarincident radiations. Thermal efficiency of solar drying was observed to be 60.26 %.

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