OPERATION PRINCIPLE

Drying is the oldest method used for long term food preservation. This method serves for storing food for long terms preventing it from being decayed, processing several products, and obtaining products of high economical value.

Solar drier units are produced by mounting OSB plates measuring 10x122x144 to each other by means of profiles. Hot air circulated in the unit from below is ensured by a hot air collector connected to the lower entrance of the unit, and removal of the air inside the unit through the top is ensured by a wind ventilator placed above the unit. A drying area of 16 square meters is provided in each drier unit with shelves of 120x120 cm.

The hot air collector is composed of a black sheet of metal placed to the interior face of its base, the upper part is composed of a transparent layer of glass or plastic that transfers solar radiation and a frame into which these are put. Sun rays coming onto the collector reach the sheet metal passing through the transparent surface and the heating of the metal by its absorbing the rays is maintained here. Air enters through the holes in the lower part of the collector and, being heated between the metal layer and the transparent surface by the heat absorbed by the sheet metal, is taken into the unit where the crops are placed through the upper part.

It has been shown through studies that this village type drier that has been developed is more advantageous than the drying method of spreading the crops onto the soil etc used in agricultural lands.

 
     
           
 
 
                   
                     
                       
                   
                   
                       
                   
                     
                   
                       
                   

 
     
   
Metal profiles and OSB plates that made up the drier unit was separated with reference to their lengths.  
  
       
   
Profiles were screwed to each other in order that they carried the shelves forming the outer frame.
 
       
   
Finally, the legs that would carry the lattice composed of the metal profiles were screwed.
 
       
   
For spreading the fruits and vegetables, lattices with extremely small holes were stretched and attached to the shelves which slide on rollers within the unit. The use of these lattices maintained the equal drying of green fruits and vegetables from both sides.
 
       
   
Lattices were stamped for sturdiness to the wooden laths stuck onto the outer surface of the shelves.
 
       
   
OSB plates to be clad onto the metal profiles were varnished for their durability against external weather conditions.
 
       
   
All the parts were mounted and the chimney of the unit was placed.
 
       
   
To make the collector of the drier unit, cupper plates were cut with 15 cm intervals in order to make channels that would both maintain the heat and direct the air.
 
       
   
The prepared cupper plates were painted black to increase their capacity of absorbing heat to the maximum.
 
       
   
Channel formed and black painted cupper plates were mounted to the lower plate that would comprise the hot air collector.
 
       
   
The transparent plastic, which would transfer the solar rays but preserve the heat, was stretched from the sides and mounted on the frame.
 
       
   
The heat collector, which would transmit the cold air it took from the lower part after heating it in the interior, was connected to the drier unit by means of an aluminium pipe and the system has begun operating.