Dimensionamento e otimização de um secador solar de frutas utilizando o método do planejamento experimental fatorial.

Abstract

This work presents a dimensional and constructive analysis of different arrangements for the components of a drying system by means of experimental factorial planning, to verify the influences of each factor on the performance of the solar dryer and to determine which ones have statistical significance, determining, therefore, the best standard for the solar fruit dryer. They were outlined as variables to be analyzed in the solar collector and in the drying chamber, following with the accomplishment of the set of experiments for each component and analysis through the factorial planning of the statistically important variables for the determination of the optimized model. For the testicles with the optimized solar fruit dryer, pineapple was selected. The results obtained experimentally determined the optimized solar drying system, whose arrangement is presented as: of a drying system with a 100 liter collector and a 50 liter drying chamber, made of solid pine wood insulating material and transparent surface of alveolar polycarbonate, of the indirect type, that is, without capturing solar energy in the drying chamber, and with an auxiliary exhaust system with forced supplies. The performance of the solar dryer showed an average thermal yield of the equipment of 20.16% and a mass efficiency of the process of 95.12%, demonstrating the technical and operational viability of the equipment and producing a final product of high quality standard. The solar dryer developed was built with low-cost materials, easily found in local stores, as a way to guarantee equipment that can have its technology disseminated and that meets the demand of producers in the region. Its operation and maintenance were carried out without the need for highly complex actions, which prove its ease of construction and operation, making it a suitable technology for insertion into the commercial environment.