Estudo de um secador solar de baixo custo para desidratação de alimentos

Abstract

The present work dealt with a low cost solar dryer made for food dehydration. The objective was to study and analyze the technical characteristics, as well as to demonstrate the viability of its use in drying the chosen products. The proposed direct exposure solar dryer operates under natural convection, and was constructed from scrapped steel frame. For this, the dryer was assembled and a series of drying tests were performed. Through the collected data, each aspect of the dryer was evaluated, regarding efficiency, limitations, economy, application, among others. Thus, based on the various results obtained, it was possible to analyze, and have the discernment that it is possible to manufacture low cost solar dryers with good applicability for home use. Moreover, it is an ecologically correct option for food dehydration, since the manufacture of this dryer allows the reuse of recyclable materials, and the process takes place by a clean and renewable source of energy. The viability of using the solar dryer proposed was demonstrated by obtaining good quality dry products, good appearance and appreciable taste, being the drying times for banana, sweet potato, eggplant, beet, coconut and guava, the following: 12h, 8h, 10h, 5h and 12h.