The development of solar dryers used for grape drying

S.P.Singha, K.S.Jairajb*, K.Srikant b

a
School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Devi Ahilya University, Khandwa Road, Indore-452001.
b
Chamelidevi Institute of Technology and Management, Khandwa Road, Indore-452020.

Abstract
This paper attempts to present various solar dryers developed exclusively for grape drying.
Technical and economical results have proved that solar drying of grapes is quite feasible.
Commercialization of solar drying of grapes has not gained momentum as expected, may be due to
high initial investment and low capacity of the dryers. Even, the farmer’s acceptance of solar dryers
developed is not encouraging. Exhaustive research and development work has to be carried out in
order to make solar drying of grapes economical and user friendly. There has been a remarkable
achievement in solar drying of grapes due to sustained research and development associated with the
adoption of advanced technologies.

Key words: Solar dryer, Grape dryer.

1. Introduction

Fruits and vegetables constitute a major part of the food crops in developing countries. Drying is
one of the methods used to preserve fruits. Many varieties of fruits are seasonal and most of them are
consumed in their dried form to a large extent. This has been made possible by the process of drying.
Grape is one of the world’s largest fruit crops. The world production of grapes is presently 65,486
million tonnes out of which India accounts for 1.2 million tonnes [1]. Drying the grape produces
raisins.
India receives an enormous amount of solar energy: on average, of the order of 5 kWh/m 2day for
over 300 days/year [2]. This energy can be used for thermal or electrical applications. Thermal
drying, which is most commonly used for drying agricultural products, involves vaporization of
moisture within the product by heat and its subsequent evaporation from the product. Thus, thermal
drying involves simultaneous heat and mass transfer [3].

*
Corresponding Author : [email protected]

2. 0. Solar dryers

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 Solar dryers used for grape drying are broadly classified as shown in the figure - 1.

SOLAR DRYERS
SUN
TRANSPARENT COVER

REAR PANEL
DIRECT TYPE INDIRECT TYPE MIXED TYPE TRAY WITH
GRAPES

HOLES AIR
NATURAL CIRCULATION FORCED CIRCULATION FOR AIR OUT

FRONT PANEL SIDE PANEL

Fig.- 1. Classification of solar dryers Fig.- 2. Solar cabinet dryer

2. 1. Direct type solar dryers

In the direct type of solar dryer, solar radiation passes through a transparent cover, usually glass,
to be incident on the grapes placed for drying. The glass cover reduces direct convective losses to the
surroundings and increases temperature inside the dryer.

2. 1. 1. Solar cabinet dryer

A solar cabinet dryer loaded with grapes to be dried is shown in figure-2. It is a small hot box,
usually made up of wood and having a length of about three times its width. The sides and bottom of
the cabinet are painted black internally for absorbing solar radiation transmitted through the glass
cover. Ventilation holes are provided at the bottom and holes are also provided on the upper sides of
the dryer. Grapes are spread on aluminum trays, having wire mesh at the bottom and exposed to solar
radiation, the temperature of grapes rises resulting in evaporation of moisture [4].

2. 1. 2. Staircase solar dryer

SUN CHIMNEY SUN

DOOR
WIRE MESH TRAY CAP
WITH GRAPES
WARM AIR

INSULATION
DRYING GLASS ROOF SHUTTER OPEN
COMPARTMENT GRAPES PLACED
STEEL ON PLATFORM COLD AIR
FRAME

Fig.-dryer
3. Stairiscase solar dryer Fig.- 4. Glass roof solar dryer
A stair case solar shown in figure-3. It has the shape of a metal staircase with its base
and sides covered by double walled galvanized metal sheets and the sandwiched cavity filled with an

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insulating material. The upper surface is covered with a polycarbon sheet to allow solar radiation to
pass through and be trapped inside. The dryer has three shelves with the upper polycarbon glazed
surface also divided into three equal parts which can swing open, to provide access to the three
compartments inside the dryer. A chimney is located at the upper end of the dryer. The whole set-up
is placed in a north-south alignment at 30 to the horizontal. The base of the dryer has four air entry
points. The partition walls between compartments also have four port-holes for easy air flow [5].

2. 1. 3. Glass roof solar dryer

A glass roof solar dryer is shown in figure-4. The dryer is covered by two long inclined glass
roofs aligned lengthwise along the north-south direction. On the roof, a cap is provided with a
longitudinal slot, so that moist warm air can escape out. Due to this, partial vacuum is created inside
the dryer and fresh ambient air is sucked through holes provided on the side walls facing east and
west below the drying platforms. The tray and inner walls of the dryer are painted black. Shutters are
provided in the lower portion of the wall below the glass roof and above the drying platforms, so that
fresh air can enter into the dryer to control the inside temperature. Grapes which are placed on the
trays get heated using solar radiation entering through the glass roof and enhances the inside
temperature. A foldable solar grape dryer developed and fabricated by Nair and Bongirwar [6] that
works on the same principle as that of the glass roof dryer is shown in figure-5. The side walls of this
dryer are fabricated using aluminum sheet and painted black from outside.

SUN HOOD SUN

AIR
OUT
FOLDABLE
INCLINED SIDE SIDE FRAME WIND
TRAYS WITH GRAPES
FRAME WITH
POLYTHENE TRAY TRANSPARENT FOIL
SHEET

MAIN AIR DRYING

BODY INLET SOLAR
WHEELS CHAMBER
COLLECTOR

Fig.- 5. Foldable solar grape dryer Fig.- 6. Indirect type conventional solar dryer

3. 0. Indirect solar drying of grapes

There are many drying systems which use the indirect means of solar drying. Two types of
indirect solar drying systems are discussed. They are: Natural circulation and Forced circulation.
3. 1. Natural circulation type

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 In these solar dryers, air movement is due to natural circulation. Grapes get heated due to direct
absorption of heat or due to high temperature in the enclosure and then moisture evaporated from the
grapes escapes out of the chamber by natural circulation of air.

3. 1. 1. Indirect type conventional solar dryer

This type of solar dryer has a solar collector for heating air and a drying chamber to
accommodate trays over which grapes are spread as shown in figure-6. The solar collector uses a
transparent foil cover and a black absorber sheet. The drying chamber is covered by a transparent foil
which protects the grapes from rain and dust. The solar collector collects the solar energy and heats
the air entering through an inlet. Heated air enters the drying chamber from beneath the tray and
flows upwards through the grapes carrying moisture with it. This moist air goes out of the opening
provided at the top. Ventilation is provided by natural convection inside the collector and drying
chamber [7].

3. 1. 2. Indirect natural convection solar dryer with chimney

TOP HOOD
SUN SUN
AIR OUTLET CHIMNEY

G.I. BOX DOOR

CHIMNEY GLASS WOOL ALUMINUM
TRAY
REDUCER CUM WIRE
DRYING PLENUM CHAMBER MESH
CHAMBER
FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR

TRAY GLASS PLATE

GLASS COVER STEP
CORRUGATED ALUMINUM
ABSORBER AIR DUCT
PLATE
ALUMINUM GLASS
FOIL MATRIX FRAME
WOOL
AIR
INSULATING G.I. BOX
INLET AIR IN
MATERIAL

Fig.- 7. Indirect natural convection solar dryer with chimney Fig.- 8. Multipurpose natural convection solar dryer

An indirect natural circulation solar dryer, which is often known as an indirect passive solar
dryer, is shown in figure-7. It has a solar collector, drying chamber and a chimney. The solar
collector uses a matte black painted copper plate as an absorber. A glass cover is fixed over the
copper plate with an air gap for the air to enter. An insulation layer is provided at the bottom of the
collector to minimize heat losses from the back of the collector. The drying chamber made of wood
is fixed with a matte black painted galvanized iron cylindrical chimney. The chimney increases the
buoyant force imposed on the air stream, to provide a greater air flow velocity. The drying trays are

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loaded and unloaded through the door, which forms one side of the drying chamber [8].

3. 1. 3. Multipurpose natural convection solar dryer

This solar dryer consists of a solar flat plate air heater, flexible connector, reducer with plenum
chamber, drying chamber and chimney as shown in figure-8. The solar air heater consists of an
absorber with fins, glass cover, insulation and frame. The air duct beneath the absorber is made using
an aluminum sheet through which air is passed. The U-shaped corrugations are placed in the
absorber plate parallel to the direction of air flow. The entire unit is placed in a rectangular
galvanized iron box. The gap between the bottom of the air duct and the box is filled with glass wool
insulation. A toughened glass plate is fixed on the frame of a rectangular box above the absorber
surface. The interior of the drying chamber is made using an aluminum sheet and the outer cover
using a GI sheet, with glass wool in between them. The drying chamber is fitted with five aluminum
trays having a wire mesh bottom. A door is provided at the rear end of the drying chamber for
loading and unloading the trays. A chimney provided at the top of the drying chamber creates the
required draft through it [9].

3. 1. 4. Indirect natural convection solar dryer with chimney and storage material

AIR OUTLET

SUN
CHIMNEY
SUN

DRYING
CHAMBER

TRANSPARENT
TRAYS FILM
GLASS COVER
ABSORBER
DRYING
PLATE
SHED
AIR
TRAYS
INLET INSULATING
MATERIAL GREEN
STORAGE BLACK HOUSE
MATERIAL FILM

Fig.- 9. Indirect natural convection solar dryer

with chimney and storage material Fig.- 10. Solar dryer with green house as collector

An indirect natural convection solar dryer with chimney and storage material used for drying
grapes is shown in figure-9. The solar dryer consists mainly of a flat plate solar air heater coupled to
a drying chamber. The solar air heater uses a matte black painted copper plate as an absorber. A glass
cover is fixed over the copper plate with an air gap. An insulation layer composed of a wooden box
filled with saw dust is used to minimize heat losses from the sides and back of the air heater. A gap

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between the absorber and the insulation layer is filled with sand as a sensible heat storage material in
order to obtain heated air even after sun set. The complete air heater unit is fixed into a metal frame.
The drying chamber made of wood is fixed with a matte black painted galvanized iron cylindrical
chimney at the top to enhance the buoyant force. Five drying trays are made using a wire mesh fixed
on an aluminum frame to hold the grapes being dried. The drying trays are loaded and unloaded
through the door, which forms one side of the drying chamber [8].

3. 2. Forced circulation type

In these types of solar dryers air is forced into or out of the drying chamber using a blower or fan
which is electrically or mechanically operated.

3. 2. 1. Solar dryer with green house as collector

A solar dryer with greenhouse as a collector is shown in figure-10. It consists of a green house as
a collector linked to a wooden stack chamber. The dryer has trays stacked inside a wooden shed.
Trays are fixed in the wooden chamber to spread grapes. The fan and plastic film together forms an
efficient solar collector system, which can increase the air temperature inside the green house by
about 20C. Heated air inside the green house passes through the trays stacked in the wooden
chamber. In order to obtain a regular air flow through the trays, a fan is placed on the rear side
of the stack chamber [10].

3. 2. 2. Geodesic dome fruit dryer

SUN SUN

TRANSPARENT
EXHAUST SHEET GRAPES SPREAD TRANSPARENT
ON PLATFORMS COVER
TRAYS
AIR FAN COLLECTOR DRYER
IN
ABSORBER FOIL
BLACK
ABSORBER
SHEET
INSULATION ABSORBER FOIL SEALING FOIL

Fig.- 11. Geodesic dome fruit dryer Fig.- 12. Side view of solar tunnel dryer

A geodesic dome designed as a mid size indirect fruit dryer in the forced air circulation mode is
shown in figure-11. The dryer is built using long wooden members. It is covered by a transparent
plastic sheet and fruit trays are placed inside the dome covered with a black absorber sheet. Thirteen
trays are used at the same time for drying. The ground is covered with gravel which serves as
thermal energy storage. Air between the two sheets gets heated up and is circulated around the black

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sheet using a blower. The blower location is such that air movement is from the top to the bottom in
a spiral pattern. Hot air is then forced to pass through the product at the center of the dome to exit at
the top of the dome. The air flow pattern is as shown in figure-11. The blower is switched on during
sunshine hours and switched off during the remaining period [11].

3. 2. 3. Solar tunnel dryer with integral collector

This type of solar dryer is used for large scale drying operations. The solar dryer consists of a
solar collector and a tunnel dryer arranged as shown in figure-12. Grapes to be dried are spread in a
thin layer inside the tunnel dryer. Heat is generated by absorption of solar energy by an absorber in
the collector as well as by the grapes. Both the collector and dryer are covered with a transparent foil.
Black plastic material is laid out between the walls of collector and dryer. To reduce conductive heat
losses on the back side of the collector, a heat insulator is provided underneath the absorber foil.
A radial flow fan with a vertical axle integrated directly into the frame of the collector is able to
force drying air through the collector. The drying air gets heated due to solar radiation in the
collector and passes along its entire length [12].

3. 2. 4. Solar air flat plate collector with obstacles

SUN FAN SUN

DRYING
CHAMBER
SOLAR
DRYER
SOLAR
TRAYS COLLECTOR
COVER
ABSORBER
PLATE
TRANSPARENT
FOIL
INSULATION FAN
AIR
INLET OBSTACLES
AIR WOODEN
IN FRAME

Fig.- 13. Solar air flat plate collector with obstacles Fig.- 14. Solar multiple layer batch dryer

Figure-13 shows a simple solar air flat plate collector with obstacles; this system is an indirect
blow-dryer that operates in the forced convection mode. The system has a solar air flat plate collector
acting as a hot air generator, a drying unit and a fan. The solar collector has a polycarbonate,
honeycombed, transparent cover at the top, an absorber plate of aluminum sheet painted black and
obstacles fixed to a thin plate are placed on an insulator of polystyrene. The collector is placed at an
inclined angle of 45o. The presence of obstacles in the air stream helps to extract maximum amount
of heat from the absorber fixed between the cover and insulator. Hence, the temperature of air

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entering the drying chamber through the collector increases. This enhances the system efficiency
with minimum load losses [13].

3. 2. 5. Solar multiple layer batch dryer

This type of solar dryer consists of a flat plate solar air collector, a fan and a multiple layer batch
dryer as shown in figure-14. The air collector has a transparent foil cover and a black corrugated
metal absorber. Air is sucked underneath the absorber, to prevent dust contamination on the absorber
surface. A centrifugal fan placed between the collector and the dryer is used to suck air. Trays made
of wire mesh are installed in a container, which serves as a multiple layer batch dryer. During the
drying process the initial air flow rate is a little high in the dryer and later it is reduced [7].

3. 2. 6. Indirect type solar fruit and vegetable dryer

SUN SUN

PV MODULE
DATA
ACQUISITION GREEN
ROOM HOUSE

FAN
FAN MEDIUM
TEMPERATURE
DRYING COLLECTOR
INSULATED
CHAMBER DOOR
PIPE FOR
AIR LOW
TEMPERATURE
COLLECTOR

Fig.- 15. Schematic layout of indirect multi Fig.- 16. Hybrid PV-thermal greenhouse dryer
shelf solar fruit and vegetable dryer

This type of solar dryer has two different types of solar air collectors working at low and
medium temperatures fixed on either sides of the drying chamber as shown in figure-15. Air is
sucked through the collectors by an electrically driven ventilator. Air heaters are covered by
polyurethane sheet on the rear side to minimize conduction and convection losses. The drying
chamber is divided into three parts, in which two parts are used as drying boxes and another for
service. These two drying boxes are connected individually to each of the solar heaters operating at
low and medium temperatures respectively. Heated air from collectors is passed through the flat bed
of material placed on the tray, which is kept inside an opaque drying chamber. It is found that the air
heater operating at low temperatures is able to heat air from 55 to 60 C, while the medium
temperature air heater is able to heat air from 75 to 80C at noon [14].

5. 0. Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal greenhouse dryer

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 The hybrid photovoltaic-thermal integrated greenhouse dryer shown in figure-16 has been
developed and installed at IIT, Delhi. The dryer has been integrated with two PV modules on the
south side roof. The PV module produces DC electrical power to operate a fan for forced mode
operation and also provides thermal heating to the greenhouse environment. To provide air
movement in the greenhouse dryer, an opening is provided at the bottom. Air moves from bottom to
top through a three-tier system of perforated wire mesh trays after it becomes hot. The UV stabilized
polyethylene sheet fixed over the structural frame of the dryer helps in trapping infrared radiation. It
also prevents unnecessary circulation of ambient air and thus maintains a desired temperature inside
the greenhouse [15].

SUN

AIR OUT
DRYING UNIT
FAN
EVACUATED
TUBE DOORS
HEATING
UNIT BLINDS

FAN DRYER
FLAT
PLATE
AIR IN TROLLEY

Fig.- 17. Hybrid solar dryer

6. 0. Hybrid solar dryer

This type of solar dryer consists of a solar heating unit and a drying chamber as shown in
figure-17. The heating unit is organized into two units with 10 evacuated tube collectors and two flat
plate collectors in each unit. The flat plate collectors heat fresh air primarily and the high efficiency
vacuum tube collectors act as secondary heating elements of the pre-heated fresh air for highest
possible output temperature. The drying chamber is a major component of the solar hybrid dryer
and its role is to modulate homogeneous drying conditions in the active drying space. The drying
chamber can be divided into two parts; the upper part consists of a fan, electric heaters and a system
for modulating the drying air velocity. The lower part contains trolleys with trays on which grapes
are spread. There are four trolleys and each trolley has 30 drying trays. The drying cabinet is metallic
whose sides are insulated using polyurethane foam. The drying operation is controlled using
dampers. One electric heater is placed in the upper part of the drying chamber, with another placed at
the entrance of the solar pre-heated air. The dryer is equipped with two fans, one of which is located
in the drying chamber for maintaining air circulation within the drying cabinet and another is used to
drive pre-heated air from the solar unit into the drying chamber [16].

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7. 0. Conclusion
It has been established that solar drying of grapes is technically feasible and economically viable.
Economically sound farmers capable of moderate investments can choose solar dryers according to
their individual requirements. In order to encourage small and marginal farmers to use solar dryers, it
is necessary to develop a simple, effective and economical natural convection solar dryer.

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