Performance of a solar crop dryer under PNG climatic conditions

Abstract A small solar crop dryer, consisting of a drying unit, thermal storage and solar collector, was designed for the climatic conditions of Papua New Guinea, and was constructed and tested at the Energy Research site of the University of Papua New Guinea. Detailed experimental studies were carried out for drying of tapioca, as well as the testing of the drying unit with and without thermal storage. Based on economic analysis, it is observed that the annual cost per kilogram of dried tapioca is about K0.27 ≠.