PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A PASSIVE SOLAR CROP DRYING

This paper presents the performance evaluation of a passive solar dryer. The Dryer was designed and constructed at Mechanical Engineering Department Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Enugu, Nigeria. using locally sourced materials from Ogbete main market, Enugu. Experimentation carried out samples 20mm 40mm sliced cassava chips weighing 46g 80g respectively in month November, 2020.Temperature readings ambient air, drying chamber collector were recorded tabulated for hours 10.00am to 5.00pm first day 9.00am 4.00pm second day. moisture content rates evaluated both dry wet basis. Plots made on variation temperature with time as well basis two days. Results show that mass water removed 112g 105g respectively. also efficiency 37.9% while dryer be 37.6%. slices 53.03% 38.8% respectively, sample 112.9% 64.6% loss or rate respective 27.0g/hr 34.0g/hr, showing percentage 62.1% 68% equipment test therefrom have shown tremendous improvement crop over conventional open air method used region/location under study. It provided veritable tool training students heat transfer analysis.