Design and Production of a Solarpowered Rotary Charcoal Dryer for Rural Farmers in Nigeria

A rotary dryer with charcoal, a heat source powered by solar energy has been designed and produced to solve the energy problems encountered by rural farmers in Nigeria, facing issues of agro-produce preservation through drying. Such problems include safety and contamination associated with conventional drying methods. Power shortage and cost also undermine the use of mechanical dryers. Therefore, A low-cost rotary dryer consisting of a drying chamber (drum), fan, DC motor, and solar energy components has been designed to mitigate the setbacks associated with conventional drying methods. Tests carried out with the dryer showed about 71 % drying efficiency for drying 1 kg of cassava chips and rice. The efficiency of the dryer varies for different agro produce and it is also dependent on the initial moisture content of the produce. The use of solar energy and charcoal which are renewable energy sources showed that the solar-powered charcoal dryer is a promising drying machinery for the rural farmers in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan Africa. The design and use of the solarpowered charcoal dryer will enhance food availability, create jobs and revenue for people, and act as a public cash crop.