Modular Solar Dryer with Sensor-Controlled Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar drying methods, including outdoor and mechanical systems, face challenges such as high energy consumption, cost, inefficiency, and loss of nutritive value due to exposure to unfavorable climatic conditions and pests, with a need for a modular and efficient solar dryer that monitors temperature and humidity for effective drying while preserving food quality.
Innovation Solution
A modular solar dryer design featuring a hemispherical dome structure with a cylindrical chamber, air circulator, and sensors for temperature and humidity control, allowing operation in two modes: moisture content-based drying and exposed duration-based drying, with a user device for real-time monitoring and control, maximizing solar energy utilization and ensuring effective drying and pest control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If outdoor drying methods are used, then cost is reduced and large scale applicability is improved, but food quality deteriorates due to exposure to unfavorable climatic conditions and pests
Solution Approach 1:
The drying system is divided into modular compartments that can be independently configured. Each module contains its own drying chamber, ventilation system, and temperature control, allowing selective drying of different food items while protecting them from external harmful conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary controlled environment between the food items and the external environment. The drying chamber with controlled ventilation acts as a mediator that allows moisture removal while blocking direct exposure to rain, wind, humidity, dust, and pests.
2Use of energy by moving object
If natural sun drying is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but drying efficiency deteriorates due to dependence on weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic ventilation cycles where fresh air is introduced and hot humid air is expelled at predetermined intervals. This periodic action maintains optimal drying conditions without requiring continuous energy input, leveraging natural convection and temperature differentials.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying chamber is designed to be self-regulating through natural convection currents. The temperature differential between the heated interior and exterior environment automatically drives air circulation, eliminating the need for continuous mechanical ventilation and reducing energy consumption while maintaining drying efficiency.
3Productivity
If mechanical drying systems are used, then drying efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts ventilation timing and duration based on real-time temperature and humidity sensors. The controller modulates the ventilation cycle to optimize moisture removal while minimizing energy consumption, adapting the drying process to actual food moisture content and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the drying process by controlling ventilation timing, duration, and intensity. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves high drying efficiency comparable to mechanical systems while consuming significantly less energy, as it leverages natural convection and temperature differentials rather than continuous mechanical heating and air circulation.
4Device complexity
If open air drying is used, then simplicity is maintained, but pest control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drying chamber serves as an intermediary barrier between the food items and the external environment. The controlled ventilation system acts as a selective mediator that allows moisture to escape while blocking pests, birds, and insects from accessing the food, thus providing pest control without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the harmful elements (pests, birds, insects) from the drying environment by creating a physical barrier and controlled atmosphere. The sealed chamber with controlled ventilation removes pests from the immediate vicinity of the food while maintaining necessary air circulation for drying.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular solar dryer efficiently dries food products while preserving their nutritive content, aroma, and aesthetics, utilizing solar energy effectively and minimizing energy loss, thus addressing the limitations of existing drying methods.
Implementation Method 1
Drying is probably the most established and oldest method of food preservation. It involves removal of moisture from the food products to provide a product that can be safely stored for longer period
Implementation Method 2
The solar drying system utilizes solar energy to heat up air and to dry any food substance filled
Implementation Method 3
air circulator, and sensors for temperature and humidity control
Data Source
AI summary
A modular solar dryer (100) for drying and physical disinfection of ingredients is described that has a first hemispherical dome (104) that is positioned on base. A hemispherical second dome (208) is positioned below the first dome and includes hollow cylindrical cavity including utensils positioned on stand. A rectangular chamber is defined in a top end portion of the dryer (100) that includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) (202), a motor (204) and an air circulator (206). The PCBA includes a controller (112), sensors and motor (204). The controller is configured to operate the dryer (100) in at least two modes. Notifications from the dryer are received on a user device (114). The dryer (100) operates on two modes of operation. A first mode is with moisture content based drying and a second mode is with exposed duration drying.