Smart Multipurpose Solar Dehydration Device for Value Addition to Specialty Crops

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase I USDA-SBIR project is todevelop efficient crop dehydrators (dryers) powered by solar energy for the preservationof vital nutrients and shelf-life in dried foods. Drying is one of the oldest and cost- effective ways of preserving nutrients and increasing shelf-life in foods. It is one of themajor energy intensive processes where huge operating costs are incurred in operatingfood dehydrators which are typically powered by gas electricity or fuel oil. The highoperating cost limits the ability of small and mid-sized growers and processors in the U.S.in producing dehydrated foods. Small growers and processor are vital to the growinglocal foods and urban agriculture industry which is currently a $1 billion industry in theUnited States. Dehydration of foods such as fruits and vegetables herbs and spicesmedicinal plants etc. still occur using primitive open sun-drying methods on mats ortrays that degrade nutrients and reduce food quality. While there are a lot of solar dryerdesigns available in the literature and online none of them have been commercializedand being utilized in large numbers.The overall goal of this project is to prototype and test proof-of-concept of (1) a novelhigh-efficiency thermal collector design (2) an integrated desiccant drying desiccantregeneration and heat recovery system and (3) a drying chamber control algorithm via amicro controller to optimize dehydration of crops/foods and conserve battery power usein a smart solar dehydrator device. The proposed solar dehydrator design approachtargets increasing collector efficiency and heat transfer in the drying chamber by 2 to 4folds over a multipurpose solar dehydrator developed by the PI (Ileleji) at PurdueUniversity for smallholder farmers and processors in developing countries. Two full- scale prototypes of the solar dehydrator would be fabricated and tested in diversegeographical locations in the United States (Indiana-Midwest and California-West Coast)to evaluate its performance (equipment and dried product quality) and validate themodeling efforts that provide feedback that would guide design improvements.JUA Technologies International (JTI) proposed high-efficiency smart multipurpose solardehydrator fits into USDA-NIFA SBIR Small and Midsized Program priorities in thedevelopment of new agricultural enterprises and use of renewable energy by: (1)improving methods of processing specialty crops to improve quality nutritional valueand provide a healthy food choice; and (2) enabling small and mid-sized growers addvalue to their crops and thus increase their farm income. In Phase II the technologywould be commercialized and transferred to small and medium growers throughpartnership with US land-grant Extension outreach services and USDA-ARS labs.Benefits will also accrue to rural communities urban agriculture/food service industriesand households as sustainable zero-carbon renewable energy technologies becomeavailable in agriculture.