Design and Testing the Moisture Content Reducing Machine by Combine Energy LPG and Solar Energy for Fresh Chili

Abstract

The aim of this research was to design the moisture content reducing machine combining between LPG and solar energy.  The main parts of this machine consist of combustion chamber with nozzle, dehumidity froom, solar collector and venting duct.  The experiment was designed as heating chilli of 60 kg.  fresh chilly at temperature of 70C, for 30 hours.  The result showed that the moisture content of the product was reduced by using this machine in all conditions, even in the gigh relative humidity condition, or hardly moisture reducing condition.  The initial moisture content of the fresh chilli was 85 % and the final moisture content was 7 %.  The ratio of fresh and dried chilli was 7:1.  The productivity cost was 4.53 baht/kg fresh chilly.  furthermore the LPG gas was not necessary in the summer because of the sunniness.