Enhancing Post-Harvest Preservation through Improved and Even Solar Drying: A Case Study in Bhutan
(2024) MVKM05 20241Department of Energy Sciences
- Abstract
- This thesis investigates the enhancement of solar drying techniques for agricultural produce, focusing on achieving uniform drying to reduce post-harvest losses. Conducted in Bhutan, a developing country in the Himalayas with abundant sunlight but limited preservation infrastructure, the study aimed at constructing an efficient and affordable solar dryer. The primary objectives were optimizing airflow, assessing component performance, and ensuring cost-effectiveness using locally available materials.
The research combines theoretical analysis with extensive experimental data collected in Dewathang, Bhutan. The results indicate that fan configuration is crucial for the efficiency and uniformity of drying in solar dryers. Utilizing... (More) - This thesis investigates the enhancement of solar drying techniques for agricultural produce, focusing on achieving uniform drying to reduce post-harvest losses. Conducted in Bhutan, a developing country in the Himalayas with abundant sunlight but limited preservation infrastructure, the study aimed at constructing an efficient and affordable solar dryer. The primary objectives were optimizing airflow, assessing component performance, and ensuring cost-effectiveness using locally available materials.
The research combines theoretical analysis with extensive experimental data collected in Dewathang, Bhutan. The results indicate that fan configuration is crucial for the efficiency and uniformity of drying in solar dryers. Utilizing reversible fans showed promising outcomes due to their ability to adjust airflow direction, enhancing drying rates.
Comparing the drying processes of bananas and chilies demonstrated that different produce require specific settings to achieve optimal results. In general, the experiments revealed a tradeoff between short drying times and uniformity and a strong dependence on external parameters such as solar irradiance.
Overall, the findings suggest that while the current solar dryer design is promising, further improvements are necessary to achieve uniform drying across various climatic conditions. This thesis provides key insights into airflow optimization, component efficiency, and practical recommendations for future development, contributing to the sustainable preservation of agricultural produce in Bhutan and similar regions. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- In many parts of the world, preserving food is a big challenge, especially in places with limited access to electricity. This thesis focuses on improving a solar food dryer designed to help local farmers in Bhutan preserve their produce more effectively and sustainably. Solar dryers use the sun's energy to remove moisture from fruits and vegetables, preventing spoilage and extending their shelf life. Traditional methods of drying food, such as open-air drying, can be inefficient and lead to contamination. The thesis is part of a long-term project aiming to develop a low-cost solar-driven food dryer that will improve food preservation in the
Himalayan region.This study focused on optimizing the dryer’s performance to achieve more uniform... (More) - In many parts of the world, preserving food is a big challenge, especially in places with limited access to electricity. This thesis focuses on improving a solar food dryer designed to help local farmers in Bhutan preserve their produce more effectively and sustainably. Solar dryers use the sun's energy to remove moisture from fruits and vegetables, preventing spoilage and extending their shelf life. Traditional methods of drying food, such as open-air drying, can be inefficient and lead to contamination. The thesis is part of a long-term project aiming to develop a low-cost solar-driven food dryer that will improve food preservation in the
Himalayan region.This study focused on optimizing the dryer’s performance to achieve more uniform drying by evaluating airflow and heat distribution. Drying experiments with bananas and chilies showed that different foods require specific drying parameters. For example, bananas were safe to store after a day, but chilies took several days. This means that drying settings need to be adjusted for each type of food. Several different fan setups were tested to find the best balance between fast drying and making sure everything dries evenly. Reversible fans showed promise but further research into their potential is necessary. Fans use very little power, and by using ones that run on solar energy, the dryer could be entirely powered by the sun. This would make it cheaper and more sustainable, especially for remote areas. Although the study provides promising results, further research is needed to optimize operation and design. Additionally, conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses could offer deeper insights into airflow patterns within the dryer, leading to further optimizations.
This improved solar dryer holds the potential to significantly benefit local communities by reducing food waste, improving food security, and providing a reliable method for preserving agricultural produce in a sustainable manner. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9165837
- author
- Müller, Lara Constanze LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MVKM05 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Solar Drying, Food Preservation, Uniform Drying, Agricultural Sustainability, Post-Harvest Losses, Bhutan
- report number
- LUTMDN/TMHP-24/5581-SE
- ISSN
- 0282-1990
- language
- English
- id
- 9165837
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-20 14:16:21
- date last changed
- 2024-06-20 14:16:21
@misc{9165837,
abstract = {{This thesis investigates the enhancement of solar drying techniques for agricultural produce, focusing on achieving uniform drying to reduce post-harvest losses. Conducted in Bhutan, a developing country in the Himalayas with abundant sunlight but limited preservation infrastructure, the study aimed at constructing an efficient and affordable solar dryer. The primary objectives were optimizing airflow, assessing component performance, and ensuring cost-effectiveness using locally available materials.
The research combines theoretical analysis with extensive experimental data collected in Dewathang, Bhutan. The results indicate that fan configuration is crucial for the efficiency and uniformity of drying in solar dryers. Utilizing reversible fans showed promising outcomes due to their ability to adjust airflow direction, enhancing drying rates.
Comparing the drying processes of bananas and chilies demonstrated that different produce require specific settings to achieve optimal results. In general, the experiments revealed a tradeoff between short drying times and uniformity and a strong dependence on external parameters such as solar irradiance.
Overall, the findings suggest that while the current solar dryer design is promising, further improvements are necessary to achieve uniform drying across various climatic conditions. This thesis provides key insights into airflow optimization, component efficiency, and practical recommendations for future development, contributing to the sustainable preservation of agricultural produce in Bhutan and similar regions.}},
author = {{Müller, Lara Constanze}},
issn = {{0282-1990}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Enhancing Post-Harvest Preservation through Improved and Even Solar Drying: A Case Study in Bhutan}},
year = {{2024}},
}