Performance analysis of a kerosene-powered dryer

Abstract

In Nigeria the pressing need to harness the increasing output of agricultural products and to help small, medium and large
scale farmers’ process and preserve food products such as vegetables, cereals, tubers etc from wastage is paramount.
Consequently, the performance analysis of a kero-dryer was carried out. The dryer was evaluated in terms of drying
efficiency, drying rate and the time taken to dry the samples. The samples of 3kg each of Okra, Irish Potato, Pepper, Plantain
and Yam locally sourced for were used in the experiment and data collected. Results showed that the initial moisture
contents of Okra, Potato, Pepper, Plantain and Yam which were 92.35% (wb), 81.70%(wb), 91.40%(wb), 65.10%(wb) and
62.80%(wb) were reduced to 11.08% (wb), 17.43 %(wb), 17.96%(wb), 11.94%(wb) and 14.65%(wb) respectively at a
temperature of 90oC and total time of 10hrs. The average drying rates were 0.26kg/hr (Okra), 0.21kg/hr (potato), 0.23kg/hr
(pepper), 0.25kg/hr (plantain) and 0.23kg/hr (yam) Compared with other types of dryers (solar, platform, flat-bed,
continuous etc) the kero-dryer is preferred because of its multi-products drying ability and can be used even in rainy season
and does not require electricity. It can be used directly in the farm during harvesting period in order to reduce the weights of
agro produce for easy transportation and bagging purposes. Also, its smokeless nature gives a superior mark compared to the
fuel-wood batch dryer. The average efficiency of the dryer is 76.46%. These results show that the kero-dryer can perform
drying of these agricultural products satisfactorily.