1Division of Horticulture & Fruit Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012.
2International Potato Centre, Region VI, IARI, New Delhi-110012.
3Solar energy group, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.
Comparative study on the dehydration of potato chips in a forced indirect solar air dryer, as compared to drying on various surfaces in the open, showed that solar dryer is more efficient in winter or on partially cloudy day when the outside temperature is low. It helps to build up temperature inside the closed and imulated chamber with least dissipation of heat. On a hot dry summer day, rate of drying was found to be faster on a black tray initially, however, rate of drying in the solar dryer came closer to other surfaces after 6th hour. Slower tate of drying in the initial stage may be due to the build up of humidity in the dryer.
