PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF NATURAL AND FORCED CONVECTION IN SOLAR DRYERS FOR MULLET FISH

Authors

  • Halim Ghafar Mechanical Engineering Studies, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Permatang Pauh Campus, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia
  • Hamid Yusoff Mechanical Engineering Studies, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Permatang Pauh Campus, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia
  • Sh Mohd Firdaus Sh Abdul Nasir Mechanical Engineering Studies, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Permatang Pauh Campus, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia
  • Kay Dora Abdul Ghani Civil Engineering Studies, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Permatang Pauh Campus, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia
  • Mohd Azmi Ismail chool of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v87.22448

Keywords:

Solar Dryer, force convection, natural convection, drying rate, mullet fish, IoT weighing system

Abstract

Ombak Damai Trading, a Malaysian company specialising in dried mullet fish, needed to dry the fish faster to meet growing demand. They reduced the drying time from 1-2 days to 3-4 hours using a solar dryer. The dryer was equipped with an IoT (Internet of things) weighing system for precise monitoring and data collection. Two inlet fans were added for forced convection drying. Measurements of weight, temperature, and humidity were taken for ten days. The forced convection system was found to be 85.78% effective, compared to 59.36% for natural convection. Moisture analysis revealed that the forced convection system removed more moisture, with a maximum percentage of 36% compared to 22% for natural convection. Forced convection also had a higher drying rate of 60.17 g/hour compared to 37.83 g/hour for natural convection. These findings can help seafood businesses optimise the drying process and achieve target moisture levels. Further studies are recommended to examine the forced convection system's commercial scalability, as well as the effects of drying on nutritional content and sensory qualities.

 

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Published

2024-11-11

Issue

Vol. 87 No. 1: Forthcoming Issue January 2025

Section

Science and Engineering

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How to Cite

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF NATURAL AND FORCED CONVECTION IN SOLAR DRYERS FOR MULLET FISH. (2024). Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering), 87(1). https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v87.22448