DESIGN OF SOLAR-POWERED AUTOMATIC-TRACKING SOLAR

DEHYDRATOR

________________

A Project Study Presented to the Faculty of the College of Engineering

Cebu Technological University – Danao City Campus

Sabang, Danao City, Cebu, Philippines

________________

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Degree

BACHELOR SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

________________

By

LUINE JUSTER CADUAN

CRISTENA A. CARPENTERO

CRISTEL JADE LAMOSTE

LYZA G. LANDERO

LEO M. LUMAPAS

EMMANUEL S. MOYA

CHRISTIAN JUDE M. ODTOHAN

JUDE APRAIM N. PEPITO

June 2022
 APPROVAL SHEET

This project entitled “DESIGN OF SOLAR-POWERED AUTOMATIC-

TRACKING SOLAR DEHYDRATOR” prepared and submitted by Luine Juster
Caduan, Cristena A. Carpentero, Cristel Jade Lamoste, Lyza G. Landero, Leo M.
Lumapas, Emmanuel S. Moya, Christian Jude M. Odtohan, and Jude Apraim N.
Pepito in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR
SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, is hereby accepted and
recommended for Oral Examination.

NOEL T. DERECHO, MSME.

Adviser

HAROLD JAY I. PAPAYA, RMEE. AMADITO P. BUOT JR., MS. Man.Eng.

Member Member

MARLON D. MATA, RMP, MEng-ME.

Chairman

ACCEPTED as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor

Science In Mechanical Engineering.

JAYSON G. BAYOGO, CE, MEng-CE.

Dean, College of Engineering

APPROVED by the tribunal at the Oral Examination with the grade of PASSED.

NOEL T. DERECHO, MSME.

Adviser

HAROLD JAY I. PAPAYA, RMEE. AMADITO P. BUOT JR., MS. Man.Eng.

Member Member

MARLON D. MATA, RMP, MEng-ME.

Chairman

Comprehensive Examination PASSED.

JAYSON G. BAYOGO, CE, MEng-CE.

Dean, College of Engineering
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Approval Sheet ii

Acknowledgement iii

Dedication iv

Abstract v

Table of Contents vii

List of Figures ix

List of Tables x

Chapter

I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

Rationale of the Study 1

Theoretical and Conceptual Background 3

Flow of the Research Process 8

THE PROBLEM 14

Statement of the Problem 14

Significance of the Study 15

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 17

Research Environment 19

Research Instruments 21

Research Procedures 21
 Gathering and Treatment of Data 24

DESIGN SELECTION AND SIMULATION 28

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 30

CONCLUSION 36

RECOMMENDATIONS 37

REFERENCES 38

APPENDICES 40
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

Rationale of the Study

Food storage is a serious challenge to food security in several parts of the

world. According to World Economic Forum (2020), there is an estimated 40

percent shortage in food storage, resulting in more than 250 million tons of food

being wasted annually in developing countries due to a lack of suitable storage

facilities. Post-harvest losses of products in developing nations, such as the

Philippines, account for the loss of 10 to 50 percent of production output (The

Manila Times, 2021).

Food waste is a growing global concern that damages the earth's physical

health and the humanity that dwells on it. According to the World Wildlife Fund –

Philippines (2021), an estimated 2,175 tons of food leftovers are thrown in the

landfill daily in Metro Manila alone. This increasing rate of food waste leads to the

accumulation of greenhouse gases, producing environmental difficulties while

also harming the economics and finances of many households. Reduction in food

wastes will result in a more secure global food system. Food preservation has

paved its way to prove its prime importance in aiding this waste reduction

approach (Martindale & Schiebel, 2017).

 Among the several ways of food preservation, food dehydration, often

known as drying, is an ancient method of extending the shelf-life of

products beyond their natural lifespan. Yet, it is still widely employed in many

parts of the world today. In research by Mackenzie (2020), lowering the moisture

content of food to between 10 to 20 percent decreases the growth of

microorganisms, allowing food to preserve for longer. Dehydration is a cost-

effective and energy-intensive way to improve the storage stability of many

agricultural products (Guiné, 2018).

According to Udomkun (2020), open-air sun drying is the most popular

method in tropical areas since it is cost-effective, especially for smallholder

farmers in rural areas. However, the drying process is highly susceptible to

contamination from dust, rain, wind, pests, and rodents resulting in low-quality

goods and a loss of income for farmers. Moreover, it is entirely reliant on

excellent weather and a slow drying rate, with the risk of mold growth leading to

degeneration and decomposition of the food. The method also necessitates a

vast amount of land, is time-consuming, and is labor-intensive (Ebiye, 2017).

Farmers, in general, struggle to dry their crops quickly, efficiently,

economically, and environmentally. Most farmers cannot afford to import

expensive mechanical drying equipment powered by electricity or a diesel

engine, as well as the associated costs of maintenance, fuel, energy, and other

operating expenses. However, there is a necessity for a dependable, efficient,

and cost-friendly method for lowering the moisture content of farm produce for

optimal storage.
 In this premise, the researchers came up with the study to design a solar-

powered automatic-tracking solar dehydrator that maximizes the incident solar

radiation through solar trackers. Employing thermal collectors for heat energy

conversion and photovoltaic collectors for electrical energy conversion is required

to maintain a safe moisture level while also ensuring superior-dried product

quality. It reduces drying time, contamination, and marketplace rejections. The

prototype can be installed in communities that are not connected to the power

grid.

Theoretical Background

This project DESIGN OF SOLAR-POWERED AUTOMATIC-TRACKING

SOLAR DEHYDRATOR is anchored on the basic principles of:

1. Moisture Content

From the journal of Kilanko et al. (2019), the moisture content of the food

product is expressed as a percentage of moisture based on wet weight (wet

basis) or dry matter (dry basis). Commercially, wet basis moisture content is

commonly used. A dry basis is primarily used in research.

(1)

(2)

Where, moisture content (wet), moisture content (dry) =

weight of the wet sample, weight of the dry sample

1.1. Energy Requirement

The quantity of heat required to evaporate the H2O from the product would

be: (3)

The amount needed is a function of the temperature and moisture content

of the product. The latent heat of vaporization is computed as follows:

(4)

Where: Mr = amount of moisture removed, hfg = latent heat of vaporization,

Tpr = temperature of the product

2. Data Analysis for Food and Drying

2.1. Drying Rates

The rate at which heat is given to a product and the rate at which internal

moisture is discharged from its surface control drying rates.

Average drying rate,

(5)

Mass of air needed for drying

(6)

Where: drying rate, humidity ratio (initial), humidity ratio

(final), drying time, = initial mass of the tested product, = final

mass of the dried product

2.2. Drying Efficiency

The ratio of the energy used to heat the sample for moisture evaporation

to the total consumed energy is described as drying efficiency (Kilanko et al.,

2019).
 (7)

Where: drying efficiency, the amount of moisture removed,

latent heat of vaporization of water, hourly insolation upon collector,

area of the collector

2.3. Equilibrium Relative Humidity

According to Kong and Singh (2011), the Equilibrium Relative Humidity

(ERH) is achieved by hygroscopic materials collecting or desorbing moisture at a

specific relative humidity of ambient air.

{ , * ( )+-} (8)

Where: ERH = equilibrium relative humidity, aw = water activity, Mf = final

moisture content in wet basis,

2.4. Required Pressure

The density difference between the hot air within the dryer and the

surrounding air will be the only cause of the pressure differential over the food

bed. Air pressure can be determined by:

(9)

Where: height of the hot air column from the base of the dryer to

the point of air discharge from the dryer, P = air pressure, T c = collector

temperature, Ta = ambient temperature

3. Actuator Theories

3.1. Momentum Theory (Helical Vortex Model)

According to van Kuik (2020), the momentum theory for thrust and torque

discs are applicable to rotors that operate with high torque at low rotational

speed. The performance grows from zero to the Betz-Joukowsky (1912) limit as

rotational speed increases. The velocity vector in the meridional plane appears to

be constant at the disc in all flow scenarios, with or without torque. The

divergence from conventional momentum theory is explained for the performance

per annulus and the performance with torque by classifying force fields as

conservative or non-conservative and analysing their impact on energy and

momentum balances. The rotor and its wake are represented in his model by

lifting lines of steady circulation, a root vortex, and helical filaments trailing from

the tips of each blade. With an unlimited number of blades, the helical filaments

create a cylindrical vortex sheet with tangential and longitudinal vortices, and the

lifting lines form a bound vortex disk. This will be referred to as the cylindrical

vortex model from here on. Joukowsky investigated the system with an infinite

number of blades using direct integration of the Biot-Savart law. Other methods

were eventually developed to solve for a portion of this vortex system or its

magnetostatic counterpart.

The study is related to Joukowsky’s helical or cylindrical vortex theory of

momentum as the said design will use a rotor actuator to rotate a disc as it allow

a stroke in an oscillating motion through a set angle by providing a turning or

angular movement.
3.2. Theory of Momentum (Disk Actuator Theory)

According to Branlard and Gaunaa (2016), using certain fluid mathematics

principles, a link between power, rotor radius, torque, and induced velocity may

be derived. Because an actuator disc will be employed in the proposed design for

functioning, the analysis is based on momentum theory.

Figure 1.

Actuator disk accelerating a fluid flow from right to left

The power necessary to produce a given thrust for a stationary open rotor

with no outside duct, such as a helicopter in a hover, is:

√ (10)

Where: T is the thrust, ρ is the density of air, A is the area of the rotor disc,

P is power

3.3. Torque

Torque is one of the most significant factors to consider when evaluating

an actuator's performance. Because the actuator in this situation is to rotate the

surface, the researcher will consider it static. (11)

 Where: T = Torque, F = Linear Force, r = distance between the axis of

rotation and the point where the linear force is applied, the angle between F

and r

4. Heat Transfer

4.1. Conduction Heat Transfer

Conduction is the physical interaction that transfers energy from one atom

to another within an object in the form of heat or electricity. In a solid medium

where a temperature gradient is present, the heat flows towards the low-

temperature area from the high-temperature area (Holman, 2010).

(12)

Where: q = the heat transfer rate, = temperature gradient, k = thermal

conductivity of material

4.2. Radiation Heat Transfer

Radiation is the term for energy that is emitted in the form of

electromagnetic waves. Unlike conduction and convection, radiation does not

require an intermediary medium to transmit energy. Thermal radiation is referred

to as a surface phenomenon for opaque materials.

Figure 2.

Heat Transfer of Thermal Radiation between Two Bodies

 By Stefan-Boltzmann law, the heat transfer rate between two surfaces

when an emissivity surface and surface area, A at absolute temperature, T is

fully enclosed by a black surface isolated by a gas such as air at an absolute

temperature. According to Cengel (2003), this can be expressed as:

̇ (13)

Where: = the emissivity of the surface, A = Surface area, = Stefan –

Boltzmann constant, Absolute temperature, Temperature of

surroundings

4.2.1. Radiation Properties

A black body is a material that does not reflect or reflect solar radiation,

but rather absorbs and transfers the energy from the sun into and out of its

surface. Since not all surfaces act like black bodies, we must take into account

the quantity of energy transferred to and from the material by the sun.

Figure 3.

Absorption of Radiation Incident of a Semi-Transparent Surface

Absorptivity (𝛼), reflectivity (𝜌), transmissivity (𝜏), represents the fraction of

irradiation that are absorbed, reflected, and transmitted by the surface. According

to Cengel (2003) absorptivity, reflectivity, and transmissivity are expressed as

 (14)

(15)

(16)

Where: 𝐺 is the incident radiation, 𝐺𝑎𝑏𝑠 is the absorbed radiation, 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑓 is the

reflected radiation, and 𝐺𝑡𝑟 is the transmitted radiation

4.2.2. Emissivity (

According to the first law of thermodynamics, incident radiation is total

energy by absorption, reflection, and transmission (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015).

(17)

Dividing by G, (18)

Kirchhoff’s Law states that the summation of emissivity is equal to the total

absorption of the surface (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015). Hence, the equation can be

written as,

(19)

For opaque surfaces, the transmissivity is equal to 0. Thus, the equation

is, (20)

For transparent surfaces, the absorptivity is equal to 0. Since 𝛼 = 0,

(21)

5. Solar Radiation

5.1. Solar Declination

The angle between the earth-sun line and the plane through the equator is

the solar declination. In other terms, the declination is the latitude at which the
sun is directly overhead at solar noon on a given day. The axis of the earth's

rotation around its axis lies at a 23.45° angle to the axes of the sun's ecliptic

orbital plane. According to Yildiz (2018), the suggested values of n give a

satisfactory representative average value of declination for the month.

* + (22)

Where: = solar declination, n = number of days (e.g. January 1 being n

= 1)

Figure 4.

Day Numbers and Standard Mean Day of the Month

5.2. Solar Energy Received at the Earth’s Surface

Solar energy is the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity via

photovoltaic (PV) or indirect conversion via concentrated energy or concentrated

solar PV (Mandawe & Capote, 2007).

(23)

Where: solar energy without atmospheric interference,

atmospheric interference, A = surface area of solar collector

5.3. Collector Efficiency

According to Kalidasan and Srinivas (2014), collector efficiency is defined

as the ratio of useable energy gain to incident solar energy over a given time

period. The quantity of solar insolation transported to the air is measured as

collector efficiency. This can be expressed as:

(24)

Where: mass flow rate of air, specific heat of air, solar

insolation on the collector and area of the collector respectively, final

temperature, initial temperature of air across the solar collector, area of

collector, collector efficiency

6. Blower Calculations

Blower calculations according to pdblowers, Inc. “TECH TALK: Positive

Displacement Blower Calculations”. The following calculation is used to compute

the braking horsepower required to drive the blower.

(25)

Where: = Differential pressure between inlet and discharge in psi, =

Speed of the unit in RPM, = Represents a constant that concludes 7.8%

for friction losses.

On the unit, we can now calculate temperature rise. Because the blower

has thermal growth constraints, the temperature rise is an important calculation.

If the temperature becomes too high, the impellers will expand into the head

plates, causing the device to seize and potentially causing serious damage.

(26)
 Where: = Actual absolute inlet temperature, = Brake Horsepower,

= temperature rise factor from manufacturers table, = Actual absolute inlet

pressure in psia, = Actual inlet volume in cfm

7. Solar Tracker

Solar panels are placed on a framework that moves according to the

location of the sun in a contemporary solar tracking system, which uses a solar

tracker. Solar panels in a modern solar tracking system are mounted on a

framework that moves in response to the location of the sun through a solar

tracker. Solar tracker adjusts the direction of the solar panels so that by keeping

the solar panels perpendicular to the sun. The more sunlight that strikes the solar

panels, the less light that is reflected, and more energy are absorbed. Solar

tracker solar panels enhance the quantity of solar energy received by 20-30%,

improving the solar panels' economics. Solar tracker provides a significant

advantage for renewable energy. With solar tracking, power output can be

increase and the increase in power output can sustain more energy. The PV

panel, left-right, and up-down servomotors, and four Light Dependent Resistor

(LDR) sensors make up the solar tracker. Automatically controlled by LDR or

manually controlled by a potentiometer solar tracker that rotates automatically to

monitor the sun.

 Data Analysis
for Food and
Drying

Actuator
Moisture
Theories
Content
DESIGN OF SOLAR-

POWERED

AUTOMATIC-

TRACKING SOLAR
Heat Solar
Transfer DEHYDRATOR Tracker

Solar Blower
Radiation Calculation
s

Figure 5.
Theoretical and Conceptual Framework of the Study
Review of Related Literature and Studies

Food preservation is achieved by allowing desired chemical, biochemical,

and microbiological modifications to occur during food processing to stabilize the

food so that it is safe for human consumption and has suitable nutritional and

sensory properties. Modern consumers desire foods that are safe, healthful, and

excellent in quality, as well as those that have special functional attributes and

health benefits (Elansari and Bekhit, 2015). These criteria indicate the type of

preservation method to be used for a certain food product, which is usually

determined by the necessary procedure and food quality standards (Kiaya,

2014). According to the study by Ndukwu et al. (2017), producers and farmers

dry and process their products for longer storage while reducing post-harvest

losses. The overall purpose of these preservation methods is to guarantee that

food lasts longer by achieving one or more of the following: lower moisture

content, microbial growth prevention, and recontamination prevention by sealing

off or using airtight containers (Fellows, 2009).

Drying is one of the earliest ways of preserving food. In developing

countries, the most common drying methods are direct sun drying, solar drying,

hot-air drying, and spray drying (Joardder and Masud, 2018). According to

Musembi (2016), solar dryers have a vital role in minimizing post-harvest losses

and adding value in both developed and developing countries. Research

by Tiwari (2016) emphasizes the significance of a consistent energy source and

airflow in delivering effective, even drying, and efficient moisture removal from

the solar dehydrator system. The heat required to remove the moisture from the
food must be provided by an adequate energy source, and the evaporated

moisture must be removed from the system using suction fans or regular airflow.

As a result, it combines heat and mass transmission, both of which necessitate

the use of energy. The most common method of transferring heat to a drying

material is to use hot air flowing over it, which is accomplished through

convection (Cruz, Guine, and Goncalves, 2014).

According to Tabassum's (2019) paper titled Design and Development of

Solar Dryer for Food Preservation, solar drying works on the idea of transforming

incident solar radiation into the thermal energy required for drying. A solar dryer

also contains numerous collectors that heat the air before it is passed through

the drying chamber to be dried. The latent heat of vaporization required to

remove moisture from the product is provided by the hot air passing through the

dryer. The airflow through the dryer is an important part of the drying process

because it promotes moisture transfer by increasing the convective migration of

water vapor from the raw material to the dry surrounding air through the outlet. In

addition, when compared to the project research, the solar-powered automatic-

tracking solar dehydrator seeks to lower the moisture content of a certain

quantity of wet materials to a safe storage level in a specified amount of time.

Also, in terms of reducing food waste, it can be established that the proposed

one is far superior to a solar dryer alone since it is an autonomous solar dryer as

well as a solar tracker. As a result, food, fruits, and even fish products can dry

quickly.
 As shown by Runganga's (2020) Solar Crop Dryer for Rural Areas study,

solar crop drier system components come in a range of styles, forms, and sizes.

Nonetheless, several characteristics are shared by all of these dryers. A solar

crop dryer's main components are the drying chamber, the extraction system, a

mounting stand, and monitoring or controlling systems. The following are some of

the major components of a solar dehydrator:

Drying Chamber. This is the dehydrator's heart, where the drying process

takes place. It is made of common materials such as metal, wood, concrete, or

bricks and is designed to keep insects, pathogens, and weather out of dried food

in an enclosed system. A drying chamber is a rectangular box consisting of an

absorber plate, structural frame, covers, and insulation. They all help with the

absorption and retention of heat throughout the drying process. According to

Kanyarusoke et al. (2016), the 30° is the inclination angle for maximum sun

radiation for crop dryers in Cape Town.

Frame. The frame serves as the drying unit's general support system. It

gives the rigidity of the dehydrator, making it essential to choose the proper

materials for the operation. Dryer frames can be manufactured from a range of

materials like wood, steel, and bricks.

Glazing. Short-wave solar energy can travel through the transparent

membrane into the drying chamber, but most long-wave solar radiation is

excluded. As a result, the long-wavelength radiation waves generated by the

heated product in the dryer are trapped, raising the interior dryer temperatures

and assisting with drying. Glazing is one of the most critical factors influencing
the operation of a solar dehydrator since it controls the heat flow in the crop dryer

system. Glass and polycarbonate are the most frequent glazing materials used in

solar crop dryers and greenhouses (Benhammou and Draoui, 2013).

Absorber Plate. A crop dryer's absorber plate aids in the absorption of

solar radiation and the retention of useful heat for drying the products. A good

absorber plate must be able to absorb and retain as much heat as possible,

which demands determining and selecting the suitable material. Because of their

high absorptivity coefficients, robust thermal conductivities, and low emittance

factors, aluminum, steel, and copper are the most commonly used absorber plate

materials. Black or dark-colored coatings are widely used because they are

effective heat absorbers. Aluminum has outstanding properties that make it an

effective absorber plate material.

Insulation. The crop dryer must be adequately insulated in order to lose as

little heat to the environment as feasible. The greater the heat transfer between

the drier's interior and the food samples, the less heat is lost from the system.

The crop drier must be able to hold as much heat as possible in order for the

drying process to be effective. This will also increase the efficiency of the dryer.

Moisture Extractor. To eliminate excess moisture caused by the increase

in relative humidity during the drying process, a system is necessary. This

maintained the air flowing through the system at a steady rate, allowing all of the

moisture released by the food to be removed from the dryer. If forced extraction

methods are required for drying, fans can be incorporated into the dryer design;
however, fans are not required in a natural ventilation system. One of the dryers'

uses of fans requires the use of an external energy source.

This method of food drying uses direct sunlight, which causes food

discoloration; consequently, it is suggested that using indirect sunlight is far more

effective than direct sunlight (Runganga, 2019). Because the sun changes from

one point to another, if the sun is not directly facing the drying chamber or if

thermal isolation is insufficient, the drying process may be disturbed.

Furthermore, the temperature and moisture level within the dryer is not

appropriately managed. This slows or speeds up the drying process while

compromising product quality. To address this issue, sunlight sensors based on

the Arduino UNO will be used to detect and follow the movement of the light

emitted by the sun. Aside from that, the Arduino is the primary microcontroller

used in dryers to monitor and control moisture content, motor speed, and

chamber temperature (Kumar et. al, 2020).

Studies on solar tracking systems have been undertaken in the literature

to make better use of solar energy. Solar tracking technology is rarely used in

sun-drying applications. Mwithiga and Kigo (2006) created a manually operated

drier with limited sun-tracking capability. They claimed that using the tracking

system, the temperature inside the cabinet could reach a maximum of 70.48 OC,

and the drying time of coffee beans was decreased from 5-7 days to 2-3 days

compared to solar drying. Abdelghani-Idrissi et al. (2018) investigated the

thermal efficiency improvement study of a solar heating system equipped with a

solar tracking system. They produced an automatic mechanical system that

provided the rotation and tilt of the solar panel. They have designed the

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) control system to position the solar panels

so they face the sun during the day. They calculated that the thermal energy

stored by the solar panel with a solar tracking system is 40% greater than the

thermal energy retained by the stationary solar panel.

Ismail et al. (2020) studied the design and implementation of a mirror-

reflected biaxial solar tracking system. They claimed that the temperature of the

moving solar panel was 15% greater than that of the fixed panel. According to

the data from Das and Akpinar's (2020) study, Determination of Thermal and

Drying Performances of the Solar Air Dryer with Solar Tracking System, the

collector in a solar drying system was equipped with sun-tracking, and the heat

and mass transmission in the system was boosted. The present experimental

investigation, which presents a unique approach to the design of the solar air

collector, has demonstrated through experimental data that the solar air collector

with low power consumption is effective. In agreement with Das and Akpinar

(2020), increasing the drying chamber capacity and solar collector surface area

of a moving SAC system can result in faster dry food production in businesses

that use solar air collector drying systems.

Elmehri (2020) designed a control system for an indirect solar dryer that

uses a DHT22 and BMP280 sensors for its precision in the measurement of

temperature and humidity to control the drying process. With the help of these

sensors, it enables to read the data used in the Arduino program to automize the

control system which based on the figs dried conditions. Hence, it can be
confirmed through the execution of the Arduino program that the automatization

of the solar dryer was success.

Alonge et al. (2019) designed a solar dehydrator with an electronic

positioning controller, an electromagnetic actuator jack, a magnetic compass, a

solar collector, and a drying container. The electromagnetic actuator jack is built

in such a way that the collector angle changes when the sun rises and sets.

Cassava chips are used in this work's trials to assess the drying rate. The

position controller drove the actuator jack, which positioned the solar collector at

the proper angle. According to their findings, the dryer performed satisfactorily

without the requirement for manual movement of the collector along the path of

the sun rays, which is where this present study would be based to optimize solar

energy.

In line with the Experimental Study and Analysis on Solar Drying of Some

Vegetables Using Locally Fabricated Solar Food Dehydrator by Laah and Isiaku

(2021), solar food dehydrators are used to preserve food by removing the water

content of that food. As stated by Tomar et al. (2017), adequate moisture

removal is required to prevent material degradation due to condensation in the

drying chamber. Active dryers, a ventilation system circulates heated air within

the drying chamber or from the solar collector to the drying chamber. The

products to be dried are exposed to air heated by a separate source in an

indirect sun dryer. Blowers or fans can be used to generate forced convection,

which is more useful for businesses and farmers (Goud et al., 2019). In an

indirect forced circulation solar dryer, the air was propelled into or out of the drier
using an electric fan or blower. As a result, you can control the drying pace in this

type of dryer. It is considered similar to natural circulation, except it includes a fan

or blower (Kibria, 2015).

According to Hafez and Harag (2018) in their study of Solar Tracking

Systems: Technologies and Tracker Drive Types, the solar tracking system plays

a significant role in various solar energy applications, where its benefits include

not only power and efficiency gains and increases over fixed systems, but also

economic analyses of large-scale solar energy applications.

Zhong et al. (2013) explored ISNA-3P, a sun-tracking system. The sun-

tracking attitude angle of solar panels is changed three times a day at three

specified positions: eastward in the morning, southerly in the noon, and westward

in the afternoon, where solar panels rotate around the slanted south-north axis.

Furthermore, solar collecting is affected by the position of the solar collector

about the sun. The researchers will design and build a solar-powered automatic

tracking solar dehydrator that will follow the sun during the day so that solar rays

are as close to perpendicular to the solar collector as possible for their

experiment.

Based on the assessment of the present literature and research

opportunities, the researchers propose a solar-powered automatic tracking

solar dehydrator for drying products. The study is designed azimuthally to trace

the journey of the sun through daily and elevation angles. The effect of a solar

tracking system on a product's drying capabilities is examined in an experiment

to validate the performance of the project by assessing its moisture

content, drying rate, and drying duration. In addition, an economic analysis is

performed to determine the feasibility of the proposed study, as well as to

evaluate the economic and financial viability of solar dehydrator investments

(Tiwari, 2016).
 REFERENCES

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AND PRELIMINARY TESTING OF AN AUTOMATED SOLAR DRYER
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Benhammou, M. and Draoui, B. 2013. Effect of double glazing on the thermal
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