Abstract

Solar Tunnel Dryer (STD) MPUAT design was installed at the Farmers Association of Singarayarpuram village of Ramnad District. The results showed that, temperature inside the solar tunnel dryer gets boosted up by 15-20o C more than the ambient. The results also revealed that the chillies dried in the solar tunnel dryer was completely protected from rain, insects and dust and the dried chillies were high quality compared to open sun dried product. Solar tunnel dryer dried chiilies are in good colour and it also reduces the cost of drying and drying time to 40 per cent.

Keywords: Solar Tunnel Drier, UV stabilized polyethylene, chillies, moisture content, and drying time