PID-Controlled Infrared Heater for Drying Mangoes with Alarm and Load Sensor Using ATMEGA328P

Moisture removal from fruits or agricultural products depends on drying temperature, relative air humidity, and duration. It is essential to control the drying conditions precisely to improve the drying process and product quality. An infrared heater bulb provides a consistent heat temperature capable of drying mangoes but with up to 30% to 40%, less energy consumption than standard heaters and, an improved and chemically safe drying process compared to conventional heat sources. This study describes the development of a device that can dry sliced mangoes using an infrared heater based on the user's inputs. The dehydrator machine consists of four staged heating processes, heating the mangoes until it achieves the desired moisture content. It measures the mangoes' initial and final weight, which are critical factors in calculating the moisture content. And based on the results, the dehydrator was able to heat and produce dried edible mangoes in an ample amount of time, with the appropriate moisture content. The results show that the cycle reduces a rough average of 0.82 to 1.0067 grams of the mangoes final weight.