Solar drier for vegetables and herbs (Phase I: 2009-14)
Solar drier for vegetables and herbs (Phase I: 2009-14) Solar drier for vegetables and herbs (Phase I: 2009-14)

A solar dryer captures solar energy through photovoltaic cells and transfers it to connected chambers for drying samples. At MCRC, a solar dryer was developed that can dry upto 50 kg of vegetables/fruits or 10 kg of leaves. This model is portable and designed to prevent condensate from dripping inside the drying chamber. Cost-effective, lightweight plastic sheets were used for the chamber, with slotted angles for support, bringing the total cost to Rs. 20,000, including the solar panel. Fans are installed on each rack inside the chamber to ensure uniform air circulation and consistent temperature, preventing overheating during the day. Trials conducted by NGOs showed that products such as Adathoda, Hibiscus, Libbia, Phyllanthus, and Amla dried in the solar dryer retained their colour and nutrients. This technology has been shared with beneficiaries through networking NGOs such as NAWA, SAM Foundation, and Inba Seva Sangam.

Category Machinery and Tools
Developed By Shri A.M.M. Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC)
Under SEED support? Yes
Current Status
Concerned Person Name: Dr. P. Sugumaran
Phone: +91 7338736199
Email: sugumaranp@mcrc.murugappa.org
Keywords/Tags solar dryer, value added products
Last Updated On 12-08-2024

Machinery and Tools Technologies