Solar Dryer Information
FAQ's
1. What Is a Solar Dryer?
Solar Dryer is a Machine which makes use of Solar radiations or simply the Sun’s energy for dehydration of fruits, vegetables, fish, etc. It makes use of controlled amount of heat to evaporate the moisture in the veggie or fruits and dehydrate it. This dehydration enhances the shelf life of veggie and fruits, preserving its nutrient value naturally. Solar dryer’s makes use of all mode of heat transfer viz, conduction, convection and radiation. This increases its output and makes viable for mass scale production. Sun dried products can be stored for 6 months or even more, it has a higher market value regular fresh produce, Its very easy to store and than the carry the sun dried products.
2. How Does a Solar Dryer Work?
Our solar dryers works on the principle of Green House Effect. The inner body of solar dryer is painted black. It has an air inlet , air enters through air inlet provided with dust filters. Sun rays enters the cabinet, heat is absorbed by the cabinet and the perforated trays. This increases the temperature of fruits veggie etc. Thus, they start losing the moisture within them. This moisture is removed with help of exhaust fans fixed at the end. The temperature controllers helps to maintain the temperature and entire system runs on solar panel provided with the system.
3. Which Vegetable and Fruits Can be Solar Dried?
Fenugreek, Methi, Palak, Spinach, Neem, Indian Lilac, Nimtree, Tomato, Onion, Kanda, Beetroot, Gralic, Coriander, Kothimbir, Amla, Pineapple, Apple, Guava, Pomegranate, bottle guard, moringa leaves,Turmeric, Grapes, Kiwi, Mushroom, Carrots, Chili, Cabbage, Corn, Peas, Mint, Strawberries, Anjir, Rose, Rose Petals, Mangoes, Chikoo, Cherry, Banana, Spices and many more...
4. How Much Time it Takes To Sun Dry the Vegetable or Fruit?
Each vegetable and fruit contains different amount of moisture, so the time required for each vegetable and fruit is different. You can refer following table to get some basic idea.
Product Name | Moisture Content | Sun Drying Hrs |
|---|---|---|
Guava | 78% | 8 Hrs |
Amla Candy | 65% | 16 Hrs
|
Tomato | 93% | 32 Hrs |
Pomegranate | 78% | 16 Hrs |
Carrot | 85% | 16 Hrs |
Pineapple | 79% | 16 Hrs |
Karela | 88% | 16 Hrs |
Green Chilly (Mirchi) | 86% | 16 Hrs
|
Rose Petals | 87% | 8 Hrs |
Moringa (Shevga)
| 78%
| 8 Hrs |
Onion | 92%
| 16 Hrs |
Methi | 90% | 8 Hrs |
Pudina (mint) | 87% | 8 Hrs |
Amaranth leaves
| 91%
| 8 Hrs
|
Basic Information
Amla
About 4 kg of fresh amla are required to make one kg of dried amla. Dried amla is usually sold at 250/- per kg.
Bottle Gourd
Take bottle gourd. Its normal price is 10/- per kg. But during a glut, it can fall to just 2/-. That means 20 kg will earn the farmer only 40/-. But if we dehydrate bottle gourd, its price rises to 140/- per kg. Ayurvedic medicine companies buy this.
Guava
About 5kg of fresh guava are required to make one kg of dried guava. Dried guava is usually exported at 800/- per kg.
Leafy Veggie
About 20 kg of fresh leafy veggie are required to make one kg of dried veggie like kasuri methi, dried palak etc. It costs somewhere at 400/- per kg.
Mango
About 6 kg of fresh mango are required to make one kg of dried mango. Dried mango is usually exported at 2400/- per kg.
Onion
About 12 to 15 kg of fresh onion are required to make one kg of dried onion. Dried onion, akes and powder costs somewhere at 350/- per kg.
Pineapple
About 5 kg of fresh pineapple are required to make one kg of dried pineapple. Dried pineapple is usually exported at 600/- per kg.
Tomato
To make one kg of sun dried tomatoes, 22 kg of fresh tomatoes are required. If the price of tomato dives to 4/- per kg you need 88/- worth of tomato to produce a kg of dried tomato. After adding labor and other expenses, the cost of a kilo of sun dried tomatoes works out to 180/- per kg. It fetches the farmer a much higher price of 400/- per kg.