Development and Experimental Study of Smart Solar Assisted Yogurt Processing Unit for Decentralized Dairy Value Chain

Yogurt production at the farm level is important for adding value to milk. In this study, a solar-assisted yogurt processing unit capable of performing three processes heating, fermentation, and cooling in single was developed. It consisted circular chamber surrounded by coil heating solar vacuum tube collector pillow plate PV-powered chiller unit. Experiments were performed using 50, 40 30 L raw milk under constant water circulation rate 50 per minute followed process 36, 18 6 rpm stirrer speeds. The heat absorption rates 5.48–0.31, 4.75–0.16 4.14–0.24 kW, removal from ranged 6.28–0.49, 5.58–0.49 4.88–0.69 kW volume, respectively. overall transfer efficiency above 80% during process. A stirring speed found be optimal terms consistency yogurt. total energy consumed calculated 6.732, 5.559 4.207 kWh batch capacity, study offers sustainable solution decentralized milk, particularly remote areas developing countries where access electricity limited.