TESTING AND EVALUATION OF

AGRO PRODUCT DRYER USING FLAT

PLATE COLLECTOR WITH PHASE
CHANGING MATERIAL

A PROJECT REPORT
Submitted by
SIDDARTH S
SRIRAM RAGUL T
VISHNU PRASANTH J
VISHNU VARDHAN M

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree

of
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
in
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SRI SHAKTHI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION, COIMBATORE – 641062
ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025
APRIL – 2021
 TESTING AND EVALUATION OF
AGRO PRODUCT DRYER USING FLAT
PLATE COLLECTOR WITH PHASE
CHANGING MATERIAL

A PROJECT REPORT
Submitted by
SIDDARTH S 714017114118
SRRAM RAGUL T 714017114123
VISHNU PRASANTH J 714017114141
VISHNU VARDHAN M 714017114142

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree

of
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
in
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SRI SHAKTHI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION, COIMBATORE – 641062
ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025
APRIL – 2021
 ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “TESTING AND EVALUATION OF AGRO

PRODUCT DRYER USING FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR WITH PHASE

CHANGING MATERIAL” is the bonafide work of “SIDDARTH S

(714017114118), SRIRAMRAGUL T(714017114123), VISHNUPRASANTH

J(714017114141), VISHNUVARDHAN M (714017114142)” who carried out the

project work under my supervision.

SIGNATURE SIGNATURE

Dr. V.K. SHUNMUGHANAATHAN, M.E,Ph.D. Mr. P.VIJAYAKUMAR, M.E.

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT PROJECT GUIDE

Dept of Mechanical Engineering Dept of Mechanical Engineering

Sri Shakthi Institute of Sri Shakthi Institute of

Engineering and Technology Engineering and Technology,

(Autonomous Institution), (Autonomous Institution),

Coimbatore – 641062. Coimbatore – 641062.

Submitted for the Anna University Project Viva Voice conducted on ……………

Internal Examiner External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We express our deep sense of gratitude to the chairman Dr. S. Thangavelu
for his invaluable guidance and blessings in the project work.
We are tremendously thankful to the Secretary Mr.T.Dheepan and Joint
Secretary Mr. T.Sheelan for his unwavering support during the entire course of
this project work.
We gratified to the Principal Dr. A.R. Ravikumar for his ultimate guidance
during the entire course of the project work.
We are deeply indebted to the Director, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Dr. R. Manian who modelled us for both technically and morally for
achieving great success in life.
We also grateful to the HoD, Dr. V. K. Shunmughanaathan Mechanical
Engineering for his constructive suggestion and encouragement during our project.
We express our sincere thanks to our project guide Mr. P.Vijayakumar
Assistant professor-Mechanical Engineering department for his constant
encouragement and support throughout our course, especially for the useful
suggestions during the course of project period.

We also thankful to all the staff members of the department and technicians
for their valuable assistance in carrying out the project work.
Finally, we take this opportunity to extend our deep appreciation to our
Family and Friends, for that they meant to us during the crucial times of the
completion of our project into a successful one.

SIDDARTH S
SRIRAM RAGUL T
VISHNU PRASANTH J
VISHNU VARDHAN M
 ABSTRACT

Solar Flat Plate Collector (FPC) is used to trap solar thermal energy.

Phase changing Material (PCM) is used to store the heat. There are many phase

changing materials that melt and solidify over a range of temperature, among

thar paraffin wax was selected as it is cost effective and provides better thermal

efficiency for longer duration and decide to use an angle of 30 degree for the

angle of Flat Plate Collector (FPC) to make the maximum efficiency of solar

air dryer. Black coating of flat plate collector is used to absorb heat from the

sun more when compared to other color. The air blower is used to blow the air

from the Flat Plate Collector (FPC) to container that contains the products to

dry. The agro products like tomato, okra, green chilly, coconut and carrot is

taken and used to test and evaluate the solar air dryer. The agro products are

placed in container and allowed to dry till the moisture content is achieved.

The drying temperature of different crops is adjusted using thermostat. Tomato

was dried from 70% to 15% in 4 hours. Okra was dried from 60% to 15% in 9

hours. Green chilly was dried from 50% to 10% in 7.5 hours. Coconut was

dried from 50% to 8% in 6 hours. Carrot was dried from 60% to 10% in 5

hours. Those crops are dried at a maximum temperature of 50°C. Testing is

done to obtain the values. The graph is drawn from the obtained values. Total

cost of the project is rupees 20,250.