Evaluation of a Cocoa Solar Dryer Prototype in Cilico Creek, Ngäbe Bugle

The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of a mixed type cocoa solar dryer prototype of induced circulation, in the Cilico Creek community, in the Ngäbe Bugle region. The evaluation was carried out by studying the design and operation variables of the prototype, consisting of two parts. First, the performances of three solar dryers were compared during a five-day drying period, considering the temperatures inside the drying chambers and moisture content of the cocoa beans of each dryer. The solar dryers were identified as: Solar Dryer A and Solar Dryer B (mixed type dryers), and Greenhouse Dryer (existing in the community), being Solar Dryer B the object of evaluation. Second, the design variables of Solar Dryer B were calculated, such as: total energy, temperature increase, and the volume of air needed to evaporate the moisture in the cocoa beans. Also, the operation variables such as: total energy supplied to the system, measured temperature increase, efficiency of the drying system, and specific energy consumption were calculated. The results showed a final moisture content in the cocoa beans from Solar Dryer B of 10.31%, an average temperature increase of 2.2° over ambient temperature, and a total heat supplied of 74.5 MJ during the drying period. An efficiency of 22.82% and a specific energy consumption of 2.75 kWh/kg were shown.