DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR CABINET DRY ER FOR ROOT CROPS CHIPS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

A solar cabinet dryer was developed and tested using cassava chips. The test involved drying experiments
with fresh cassava chips of average size of 3.5 cm. In the trial experiment, the dryer was not loaded with
the product rather, temperature of the collector, the dying chamber/plenum and chimney were taken at
intervals of 30 minutes. The highest temperature attained by the solar dryer was 45.5°C. A sample of
200g of cassava chips was thereafter loaded in each of the three trays and dried from moisture content of
80% (wb) to 14.3 % (wb) in tray 1, to 15.3% (wb) in tray 2 and to 14.3% (wb) in tray 3 respectively in
four days. The quality deterioration of the dried cassava chips based on color change was not significant
by visual observation. This indicates that there was little or no fungal (mould) infestation and is therefore
recommended for use for cassava chips drying in Nigeria if similar tests are carried out in other agro-climate
zones of the country. A performance test for other sizes of the chips is ongoing.