Solar dryers in the Asia-Pacific region

The traditional method of solar drying in the Asia-Pacific region is by open-air drying where the product to be dried is exposed directly to the sun. The disadvantages of this traditional form of drying are many. Dirt, dust, and wind-blown debris, insect infestation, human and animal interference, will result in contamination of the product. Speed of drying and quality of dried product will be reduced due to over/under drying, intermittent sunshine, interruption and wetting by rain. Mechanical solar drying using natural convection or forced circulation would minimise these disadvantages. The author of this paper visited a number of countries and studied the numerous designs available for solar drying in the region. Three types of solar dryers considered by the author as having the best potential for development in the Asia-Pacific Region are discussed. These are the natural convection cabinet-type solar dryer, the forced convection indirect solar dryer, and the greenhouse-type solar dryer.