Natural Convection solar dryer with backup burner for small scale rural pepper farmers

Low, Patrick Tiong Kie (2011) Natural Convection solar dryer with backup burner for small scale rural pepper farmers. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

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Abstract

Pepper is one of the most popular crops grown in Malaysia. Sarawak is also well known with its high quality pepper products worldwide. In Malaysia, most of the small scale rural pepper fanners use the traditional way that is drying the pepper berries under the direct sunlight in the open space outdoor. This is practiced commonly due to two main reasons, the tropical climate, and also lack of capital to invest in high technology equipment. Thus, the drying process takes longer time and higher manpower, due to unexpected rainfall. Furthermore, contaminations by microbes and dust/dirt in the air and surrounding environment decrease the quality or destroy the sun dried pepper berriesJ Presently, there are several types of solar based dryers being developed worldwide for agricultural purpose. This research is motivated by some successful adoptions in other countries. This research ai~s to study and develop a solar based dryer to assist the small scale fanners in drying their pepper berries more efficiently. Prior to the commencement of the proposed solar dryer prototyping, a series of drying characteristics tests were conducted. Consequently, Computational Fluid Dynamic models were simulated to observe the heat and mass transfers in the proposed solar dryer. The CFD simulation helped to design the optimized performance for the drying processes in the proposed solar drying system. It also laid the base for evaluating the accuracy and reliability of the fluid flow analysis. The developed prototype was tested to dry the pepper berries for its performance. The testing and evaluation proved that the designated prototype could work as shown in the simulated models.

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