Development of a forced convection of solar dryer for red peppers

Abstract

The construction of a solar dryer, of a double-skin tent design (the inner skin of black plastic sheet, the outer of clear sheet), with forced air draught provided by an electric fan, is described. The performance of the solar dryer m the drying of capsicum peppers was compared with traditional sun drying; drying times with the solar dryer were reduced by 65 %. The quality of the solar-dried peppers was fully acceptable.