A Solar Dryer Integrated with an Electric Heating System for Avocado Drying
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Abstract
This research aims to design, develop, and evaluate the performance of a hybrid solar–electric dryer for drying local avocado varieties. The developed drying system operates by combining solar energy during the daytime with electrical energy when solar radiation is insufficient, enabling continuous drying for 24 hours. The experiment was conducted using 5 kg of avocados with an initial moisture content of approximately 84.7% (wet basis), under controlled drying temperatures of 60, 65, and 70 °C. The results showed that the drying system was able to maintain stable temperatures and achieve uniform heat distribution, resulting in a reduction of moisture content to approximately 10% (wet basis), with drying times of 24.1, 22.8, and 21.9 hours, respectively. Furthermore, the thermal efficiency of the system increased with higher drying temperatures, with values of 4.55%, 5.31% และ 5.65%, respectively, indicating that the temperature of 70 °C provided the highest efficiency. In conclusion, the developed hybrid solar–electric dryer effectively enhances drying performance, reduces drying time, and extends the shelf life of avocados and helps reduce post-harvest losses.
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ลิขสิทธ์ ของมหาวิทยาลัยเทคโนโลยีราชมงคลพระนครReferences
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