Evaluation of trolley-cum-batch dryer for red chillies

The modified/improved multi crop trolley dryer was evaluated for its performance under shade drying using only aeration system and evaluated for red chillies (Variety: CH-l). One quintal of chillies was dried per batch with approximately 44.5 mm thickness when loaded on a trolley dryer. The air flow rate of 1.2 m/s was maintained throughout the drying process. Before drying the chillies were treated with dipsol solution. The dryer took only 34.5 hrs to reduce the moisture content of chillies from 75% to 25% (w.b.) consuming 2.57 Kwh electric energy per cent moisture reduction. Further, sun drying of 5 hr was required to bring down the moisture of trolley dried chilli samples to safe level of 10% (w.b.) The quality of trolley dried samples were compared with the sun dried and mechanical tray dried samples (60°C drying air temperature). The quality of dried red chillies in terms of microbiological, biochemical (Capsaicin content, Ascorbic acid, Colouring matter) attributes was measured. The trolley dried samples had better microbiological quality as they were associated with minimum aerobic colony count (6.78x10³cfu/g) and fungi (5.4x10² cfu/g) in comparison to sun dried and mechanically dried samples. Moreover, maximum colouring matter (ASTA units), Capsaicin content and Ascorbic acid were also witnessed in trolley dried chilli samples.