Department of Bioenergy, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
*Email: saravanapriya.g@gmail.com
Online published on 31 December, 2014.
An experimental study was conducted in to compare the drying effect of Copra in three different modes of drying. The moisture content of copra is reduced from 55% (w.b.) 6% (w.b.) in open sun drying, solar only mode and solar-biomass mode. It is found that it requires 48 hours in solar-biomass mode, 51 hours in solar only mode, 94 hours in open sun drying. The drying efficiency is found to be 26.7% in solar only mode and 32.5% in solar-biomass mode. The quality of the product obtained in solar-biomass mode is much better when compared to open sun drying and solar only mode.
Copra, Biomass air heating system, Solar tunnel dryer, Drying efficiency, Coconut oil
