A study of low cost solar dryer for fish preservation

Abstract

Prawns (Kolambi) were utilised as the drying material for the low cost solar dryer (LCSD). Open sun drying and sunlight drying were monitored for comparison purposes to determine the amount of time needed to reduce the moisture content from 75 to 16%. In the drier, salted fish took 8 hours to dry prawns to a moisture content of 16.15%, while unsalted fish needed 15 hours to achieve the same moisture content in the open state. The overall efficiency of collection was found to be 70.97%. Average pickup efficiency for salted and unsalted fish was found to be 10 and 9%, respectively, while average drying efficiency for salted and unsalted fish was 14% and 11%, respectively. In a sensory analysis, salted prawns were preferred above an unsalted solar-dried sample because of their colour and feel. While conventionally open sun dried samples were least loved for their colour and texture, the unsalted prawn sample dried in a solar dryer was generally well received. During the sensory analysis, the value of F is calculated to be 1.98. For the benefit of the local fisherman, the economic cost of solar drying was compared to mechanical drying. Poor fishermen may afford the LCSD for Rs. 1700 compared to other expensive mechanical dryers. By implementing sun drying technology, neighbourhood fishermen might recoup their investment in solar dryers in 0.19 years.