The Solar Tunnel-DryerThe Solar Tunnel-Dryer

BackgroundBackground Up to 50% of the fruits and vegetable and 25% of the harvested food grain rotten Up to 50% of the fruits and vegetable and 25% of the harvested food grain rotten

in the tropical countriesin the tropical countries During the harvest the high quantity of food can not be sold or the price is not During the harvest the high quantity of food can not be sold or the price is not

good! good! Drying in the direct sun has the risk of damaging the complete harvest by rainfall Drying in the direct sun has the risk of damaging the complete harvest by rainfall Animals decrease the quality of the productAnimals decrease the quality of the product By drying the farmer can have more income and for a longer timeBy drying the farmer can have more income and for a longer time Dried food generates a much better benefit on the market than the unprocessed Dried food generates a much better benefit on the market than the unprocessed

fruit. fruit. - Such a dryer can be built in one day for about 100$! And you really can make - Such a dryer can be built in one day for about 100$! And you really can make

money with it by selling the good quality and delicious Product!money with it by selling the good quality and delicious Product! By drying, the taste of the fruits are intensified and the nutrients are contained By drying, the taste of the fruits are intensified and the nutrients are contained

more intensely and they taste more sweet and richer. The vitamins and minerals more intensely and they taste more sweet and richer. The vitamins and minerals remain in the product beside of vitamin C, which is reduced. remain in the product beside of vitamin C, which is reduced.

Dried fruit and vegetables are freely from preservatives.Dried fruit and vegetables are freely from preservatives. Dried food has a very good nutritive quality (vitamins etc) Dried food has a very good nutritive quality (vitamins etc)

Benefits of solar drying Benefits of solar drying

Dried foods are tasty, nutritious, the nutritional value and flavor of food Dried foods are tasty, nutritious, the nutritional value and flavor of food is only minimally affected by dryingis only minimally affected by drying

Dried foods are high in fiber and carbohydrates and low in fat, making Dried foods are high in fiber and carbohydrates and low in fat, making them healthy food choicesthem healthy food choices

Vitamin A is retained during dryingVitamin A is retained during drying Storage space is minimal, easy-to-storeStorage space is minimal, easy-to-store Transportation costs are reduced; dried Products weigh only about 1/6 of Transportation costs are reduced; dried Products weigh only about 1/6 of

the fresh food productthe fresh food product The energy input is less than what is needed to freeze or can The energy input is less than what is needed to freeze or can easy-to-prepare; solar food drying is a very simple skill easy-to-prepare; solar food drying is a very simple skill longer storage of dried products outside the fridge!longer storage of dried products outside the fridge! It is a absolute safe technology. No high voltage is used, no risk of high It is a absolute safe technology. No high voltage is used, no risk of high

Temperature not any harm could be generated by the dryer. Temperature not any harm could be generated by the dryer. The food is safe, although it could be contaminated before drying. The food is safe, although it could be contaminated before drying.

Because of the pasteurization-effect due to “high” temperature in the Because of the pasteurization-effect due to “high” temperature in the dryer.dryer.

Compare traditional open air-drying Compare traditional open air-drying with the Solar Tunnel Dryer with the Solar Tunnel Dryer

Speed of drying by open air-Speed of drying by open air-drying and Solar Tunnel Dryer drying and Solar Tunnel Dryer

Benefits of solar drying Benefits of solar drying

Can open new markets and income and is a good start-up technology. It improves the Can open new markets and income and is a good start-up technology. It improves the bargaining position of farmers. Sometimes farmers sell at very low prices during the bargaining position of farmers. Sometimes farmers sell at very low prices during the harvest seasonharvest season

You can have up to 50% more productivity in agricultureYou can have up to 50% more productivity in agriculture For diabetics dried fruit prepared without adding sugar is a healthy choice instead of For diabetics dried fruit prepared without adding sugar is a healthy choice instead of

desserts.desserts. Dried fruit can be used in stews, soups and casseroles or enjoyed as snacks. It can also Dried fruit can be used in stews, soups and casseroles or enjoyed as snacks. It can also

be added to cereals for breakfast or used in making ice cream and baked productsbe added to cereals for breakfast or used in making ice cream and baked products Children like dried food because of the sweetness. Children like dried food because of the sweetness.

Compared with open-air dryingCompared with open-air drying

Protection of the drying products from insects but also Protection of the drying products from insects but also from birds, dogs, especially for drying meat and fish. from birds, dogs, especially for drying meat and fish.

the product is hygienic because microorganisms, the product is hygienic because microorganisms, insects and flies are killedinsects and flies are killed

protection of rain protection of rain Protection of pollution by dust etc.Protection of pollution by dust etc. Protection of the wind which can blow away the food. Protection of the wind which can blow away the food. reduction of drying time (reduces changes through reduction of drying time (reduces changes through

spoilage)spoilage) no need to turn the product because air passes both no need to turn the product because air passes both

sides of the productsides of the product

Compared with open-air dryingCompared with open-air drying

no loss of colors of the product (tomato, no loss of colors of the product (tomato, paprika powder etc)paprika powder etc)

Drying is faster because inside the dryer it is Drying is faster because inside the dryer it is warmer than outsidewarmer than outside

Less risk of spoilage because of the speed of Less risk of spoilage because of the speed of drying. (if the drying process is slow the fruit drying. (if the drying process is slow the fruit start to ferment and the product is spoiled). start to ferment and the product is spoiled).

It is labour saving. The product can be left in It is labour saving. The product can be left in the dryer overnight or during rain.the dryer overnight or during rain.

The quality of the product is better in terms of The quality of the product is better in terms of nutrients, hygiene and colornutrients, hygiene and color

Compared with open-air dryingCompared with open-air drying

butbut: : more expensive than with direct sun more expensive than with direct sun

drying (Solar dryer costs about 70 $)drying (Solar dryer costs about 70 $) if you have huge quantities to dry you if you have huge quantities to dry you

need big dryers.need big dryers.

Can be used forCan be used for

- - fruitsfruits: apples, apricots, grapes, pineapples : apples, apricots, grapes, pineapples and banana (taste great when dried), melon, and banana (taste great when dried), melon, plums, beets, mangoes, dates, figs.plums, beets, mangoes, dates, figs.

- - vegetablesvegetables (cabbage, broccoli, peppers, (cabbage, broccoli, peppers, herbs, onions, squash, tomatoes, asparagus, herbs, onions, squash, tomatoes, asparagus, celery, potatoes, peas, carrots, peppers, yams, celery, potatoes, peas, carrots, peppers, yams, red cedar)red cedar)- corn, maize, rise, cassava, cocoa- corn, maize, rise, cassava, cocoa

Can be used forCan be used for

- Fish - Fish - Meat- Meat - mushrooms (may be can be cultivated in the - mushrooms (may be can be cultivated in the

dryer as well with a plastic-foil on the button)dryer as well with a plastic-foil on the button) - spices (dried chili, peppers, garlic)- spices (dried chili, peppers, garlic) - Medical plants- Medical plants - tea, coffee, cacao, tobacco, cashew and - tea, coffee, cacao, tobacco, cashew and

macadamia, milk, hay, copra (kernel of the macadamia, milk, hay, copra (kernel of the coconut)coconut)

Easy to dryEasy to dry

Apples, apricots, coconuts, dates, figs, guavas, plums, avocados, Apples, apricots, coconuts, dates, figs, guavas, plums, avocados, bananas, breadfruit, and grapes. Most vegetables, chilies, corn, bananas, breadfruit, and grapes. Most vegetables, chilies, corn, potatoes, cassava root, onion flakes, and the leaves of various potatoes, cassava root, onion flakes, and the leaves of various herbs and spices. herbs and spices.

more difficult to drymore difficult to dry: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, celery, : Asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, celery, various greens, pumpkin, squash and tomatoesvarious greens, pumpkin, squash and tomatoes

Fruits are ideal for preservation by drying since they are high in Fruits are ideal for preservation by drying since they are high in sugar and acid, which act to preserve the dried fruit.sugar and acid, which act to preserve the dried fruit.

- Vegetables are more challenging to preserve since they are low - Vegetables are more challenging to preserve since they are low in sugar and acidin sugar and acid

- - Drying meat requires extreme cautionDrying meat requires extreme caution since it is high in since it is high in protein what invites microbial growthprotein what invites microbial growth

- Fish drying, for example, requires thorough cleaning of the drier - Fish drying, for example, requires thorough cleaning of the drier after each batchafter each batch

Steps for drying foodSteps for drying food

1. Selection (fresh, undamaged products)1. Selection (fresh, undamaged products) 2. Cleaning (washing & disinfection)2. Cleaning (washing & disinfection) 3. Preparation (peeling, slicing etc) 3. Preparation (peeling, slicing etc) 4. Pre-treatment (e.g., blanching, anti-discoloration by coating with 4. Pre-treatment (e.g., blanching, anti-discoloration by coating with

vitamin C, de-waxing by briefly boiling and quenching, and vitamin C, de-waxing by briefly boiling and quenching, and sulfurization by soaking or fumigating. Fish is often salted)sulfurization by soaking or fumigating. Fish is often salted)

5. Drying5. Drying 6. Cooling down (wait till Temperature is down)6. Cooling down (wait till Temperature is down) 6. Packaging: Glass with airtight jars or plastic containers. And 6. Packaging: Glass with airtight jars or plastic containers. And

later for selling sealed in Plastic-bags. Plastic freezer bags are later for selling sealed in Plastic-bags. Plastic freezer bags are safe and durable. Requires packaging to prevent insect losses safe and durable. Requires packaging to prevent insect losses and to avoid re-gaining moistureand to avoid re-gaining moisture

7. Storage: dry, dark, cold7. Storage: dry, dark, cold

Professional Dryer VersionsProfessional Dryer Versions

SamplesSamples

Ready dried spices

dried apples

Mixed dried food

SamplesSamples

Bread with dry-fruits, very delicious!

Muesli in the morning with dry-fruits. Can the day begin with something better?

Storage of dried fruits

Thank you for Patience!Thank you for Patience!

Contact

www.alternative-technology.de(more Information about Drying)

Email: StefanSchranner@yahoo.de