Madras Agric. J., 2022; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.

000634

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Study of Feasibility of Solar Tunnel Dryer for Preparing Onion Powder

Hrishikesh Patil
Dept. of Food Process Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, India

Abstract
Drying is one of the most conventional methods used for and before preservation
and storage. It also improves the post-harvest quality and is used for the value
addition of the product. This present evaluate the the feasibility of a solar tunnel
dryer for preparing onion powder. The study aims to minimize the storage losses and
provide a cheap alternative to open sun drying. Solar drying would create an income
source in a rural area, especially for farmers, and can also be used for a startup
or small-scale industry. Onion powder was prepared and a sensory evaluation was
done. Market acceptance of prepared onion powder was determined by the data
collected from the market survey.

Keywords: Drying; Solar tunnel dryer; Onion powder; Small-scale industry.

Introduction cost of it varies throughout the year. The lack of
Drying is one of the traditional methods used knowledge of post-harvest handling and improper
for the preservation of agricultural produce. The storage practices leads to the huge loss of onion
reduction in the moisture content results in the every year in India. The total storage losses of onions
are comprised of physiological loss in weight (PLW)
physical as well as chemical stability of the product.
i.e. moisture loss and shrinkage (30-40%), rotting
Drying allows the storage of products at ambient
(10-12%), and sprouting (8-10%) for 4-5 months of
temperature for an extended period (Arjoo et al.,
storage (Tripathi and Lawande, 2016).
2017). For drying and dehydration of any product,
several techniques have been employed which Drying provides value addition to the produce. For
are solar drying, vacuum drying, infrared drying, drying of onion slices from the initial moisture content
etc. The problem in the conventional open-air sun of about 86% (wb) to the final moisture content of
drying process is contamination, theft, or damage about 7% (wb), the energy required per unit mass of
by birds, rats, or insects. It is slow drying and has water removed without using recirculation of air was
no protection from rain, dew, or any storm (Patil, R. found to be between 23.548 MJ/kg and 62.117 MJ/
Gawande., 2016). kg water (P.N. Sarsavadia, 2007).
Sunshine hours in India are about an average The experiment was conducted by using a solar
of 3000- 3200 hours per year and deliver about tunnel dryer for drying onion. Drying characteristics
2000 kWh/m2-yr of solar radiation on a horizontal and cost economics were determined for onion
surface (Mani, 1980). Solar drying could be the best powder. The main purpose of this study is to
and cheap alternative to open-air sun drying. Solar determine the feasibility of solar tunnel dryers to
tunnel dryers, solar cabinet dryers, PCM assisted prepare dried onion powder, for Indian farmers and
solar dryers are examples of solar drying units. A
small-scale industries or startups.
solar tunnel dryer is a low-cost large capacity drying
unit that can be used in the rural region to dry Materials and Methods
various agricultural produce. The temperature below
The study was carried out under the meteorological
65OC is sufficient for drying agriculture produce. The
conditions of Akola, Maharashtra state (20.7002°
solar tunnel dryer provides a temperature range of
N, 77.0082° E) in India in February from 09.00 a.m.
26 to 64 OC (Rathore and Panwar, 2011).
to 05.00 p.m. The average high temperature of the
India is one of the largest producers of onion in Akola is 34 OC in February month.
the world second only to China, accounting for 16
percent of the total area under cultivation in the world Solar Tunnel Dryer
and 13 percent of total production (Anonymous,
A small unit of solar tunnel dryer installed at
2010). Onion has a large market in India and the
CAET, Dr. PDKV,Akola, India was taken for study. The
*Email: [email protected] 109| Special | 46
Madras Agric. J., 2022; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.000634

specifications of the solar tunnel dryer are given in Determinationof moisture content
Table 1. The solar tunnel dryer used for the study is To determine the initial moisture content, the ov-
shown in Plate 1. en-dry method suggested by (Ranganna S. 1986) is
used. About 10 g of samples were taken in an oven
and the moisture content on a wet basis (wb) was
calculated using the Eq. (1)

M (% wb) = ((mi - mf))/mi×100 (1)

Where M is moisture content, mi and mf are ini-

tial and final moisture content.

The sample of onion was kept in the solar tunnel

dryer, the dry basis moisture content is calculated by
the following formula (Bala, 2016).

Plate 1. Solar Tunnel Dryer M.C.(%db)=((W1-W2))/W2×100 (2)

Instruments and equipment

Where, W1=Weight of the sample before drying,
A digital thermometer was fixed inside the dryer
W2= Weight of bone dried sample.
to measure the temperature, Weighing of material
was done by using an electronic balance, a low Moisture Ratio-The Moisture ratio of the produce
capacity vegetable slicer, a low capacity grinder is was computed by the following formula (Chakraverty,
used to prepare the powder and a hot air oven is 1988).
used to determine the initial moisture content.
MR=((M-Me))/((Mo-Me)) (3)
Experimental procedure
Raw material, onion was collected from the local Where, M is moisture content %(db), Me is EMC,
market. Primary unit operations such as peeling, %(db),Mo is IMC %(db)
and cutting were done manually. A low-capacity
vegetable cutter was used for slicing the onion. The Drying rate
material was weighed on an electronic balance and The drying rate of the product sample during
then kept in a solar tunnel dryer for drying. Then 10 the drying period was determined as follows
g sample was kept separately in the solar tunnel (Chakraverty, 1988).
dryer to take weight readings for calculating drying
characteristics. Weight readings of the sample were
DR=W/t (4)
recorded after every one-hour interval from 9.00
a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The onion powder was prepared
Where, DR is drying rate,g/min, W is weight
by grinding the dried onion flakes. Following is the
loss in 1 h interval,tis difference in time reading,
flowchart of the onion processing.
min

Market survey
A small survey was conducted in the local market
of Akola, MS, India. The data on cost, packaging and
overall quality of the existing brands of onion powder
was collected for study. Packaged solar-dried onion
powder is introduced to the local traders to determine
its acceptability of the solar-dried onion powder in
the market. The main objective of the market survey
was to determine the quality assessment, packaging,
cost, and the market available for onion powder.
Figure 1. Flow of preparation of onion powder
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Madras Agric. J., 2022; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.000634

Sensory evaluation was 5.68 kg. The solar tunnel drying of onion slices
The descriptive numerical scoring system was is shown in Plate 2. The total moisture removed was
used for the sensory evaluation of the organoleptic 40.92 kg. Dried onion flakes are shown in Plate 3.
properties of dried onion powder. Properties are The total drying time for solar drying of onion was
determined such as flavor, color, and texture. The test 7 h. The data of moisture content, drying rate, and
was carried out by a panel of nine judges of different moisture ratio against time are given in Table 2.
ages, groups, and sex based on ‘9’ point Hedonic The initial and final weight of the solar tunnel dried
scale which is defined as follows: Like extremely- 9, onion sample was 10 g and 1.6 g respectively. The
Like very much– 8, Like moderately– 7, Like slightly– Moisture present in the final dried sample was 0.42
6, Neither like nor dislike– 5, Dislike slightly– 4, g. The total moisture removed from the sample was
Dislike moderately– 3, Dislike very much– 2, Dislike 8.4 g. Initial Moisture content was 747.45% (db)
extremely– 1 (Sukanya and Michael, 2014). reduced to 35.59 % (db). The drying rate in the initial
stage of drying was 0.0461 (g/min) and in the final
Results and Discussion stage of drying it was 0.0200 (g/min).
Initial Moisture Content (Oven drying method)
Drying Characteristics

Theinitial moisture content determined by the Drying Characteristics are depicted by plotting
oven drying method was 87% (wb). the curve between the moisture content of onion and
drying time. The variation of moisture content with
drying time is shown in Figure 2. It is observed from
the figure that moisture content at the initial drying
stage decreased faster and later became slower.
The relation between drying rate, drying time, and
moisture ratio is shown in Figure 3. The drying rate
is steadily decreasing with the drying time and the
moisture ratio decreased faster in the initial stage
of drying.

Plate 2. Drying of onion slices in solar tunneldryerPlate

3. Dried onion flakes

Drying of OnionSlices (Solar tunnel dryer)

A total of 53 kg of onion was taken for processing.
Figure 2. Moisture content v/s Time Figure 3.Drying
The weight of onion after peeling and cleaning was
rate v/s time v/s Moisture content
46.6 kg and the weight of the final dried onion powder
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Madras Agric. J., 2022; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.000634

Analysis of Sensory Evaluation of Onion Pow-

der =Rs. 0.15 /hr
The organoleptic property was evaluated for dif-
ferent parameters such as color, flavor, taste, odor,
Repair/ Maintenance cost @ 10%
appearance, and overall acceptability. The range of
scores was 1(dislike extremely) to 9(like extremely). R=C/UL× 0.10
The mean score of sensory properties is given in Ta- =48000/(3600×10)× 0.1
ble 3. According to the Fig 4. the score of color, fla- =Rs. 0.13/ hr
vor, and taste belongs to the ‘like very much’ scale
Total fixed cost = a + b + c + d
and the score of odor and appearance belongs to
the ‘like moderately’ scale. The overall acceptability = 1.2 + 0.88 + 0.15 + 0.13
score is favorable. = Rs. 2.36 /hr
Variable cost
Raw Material cost Rs.8 /kg
COST ESTIMATION OF ONION POWDER (for 53 kg)
= 8 ×53
=Rs. 424
Total raw material= 53 kg
Transportation cost= Rs. 20
Packaging cost = Rs. 10
Cost of tunnel dryer, C = 48000
Total variable cost= a + b + c
Salvage value, S= 4800 = Rs. 454
Fixed cost for 24 hrs (drying time)
Annual use (expected operation), U=
=2.36× 24
300×12=3600h
=56.64 = Rs. 57
Expected Life, L=10 yrs So, Total Cost = Fixed cost + Variable cost
= 454 + 57
Fixed cost = Rs. 511

Depreciation cost= (C-S)/Uh (5) Considering 12% profit

=(48000-4800)/(10×300×12) Profit = 511 × 0.12 = 61.32

= Rs. 1.2 /hr = Rs. 60

Interest on capital investment @12% per So, Selling Cost = fixed cost + Variable cost +
annum profit
Average price (I1)
= 511 + 60
=(C+S)/2U×0.12

= Rs. 571
=(48000+4800)/(2×3600)×0.12
The final dried onion powder is 5.68 kg,
=0.88 /hr 571/5.68=100.52≅ Rs.100 per kg.
This estimated cost is based on general local
Insurance & housing cost @ 2% per annum wholesale values and estimated for the processing
an avg. price (I2) of 53 kg of onion. Profit may vary depending upon
=(C+S)/2U× 0.02 assumed values. If the quantity of the product
increases, the cost may get reduced.

=(48000+4800)/(2×3600)×0.02

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Madras Agric. J., 2022; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.000634

Market Scope used the work and/or words of others, that this has
Food processing industries need onion powder been appropriately cited. Plagiarism in all its forms
for several purposes. Farmers or FPO could approach constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is
these industries to make a supply contract. Moreover, unacceptable.
after packaging and branding of onion powder, the
local retail market is also open. The cost of onion Consent for publication
powder available in the market ranges between Rs. Author agreed to publish the content.
300 to Rs.700 per kg. The estimated cost of onion
powder prepared by using a solar dryer was Rs.100 Competing interests
per kg. There were no conflict of interest in the publication
of this content.
Feasibility of the Solar Tunnel Dryer for
Farmers and Startup Data availability
From the data above, the solar tunnel dryer is All the data of this manuscript are included in the
efficient for drying onion slices. The quality of dried MS. No separate external data source is required.
onion powder was good, both in color and flavor.
There is a reduction in drying time as compared to Author contributions
open-air sun drying.The maintenance of the solar
Idea conceptualization-S. kalbande, Experiments-
tunnel dryer is less as compared to other electrical
Hrishikesh Patil, Writing original draft Hrishikesh
dryers.
Patil, Writing- reviewing &editing -Hrishikesh patil, P.
Sudha.
Conclusion
The drying technique is the low-cost preservation Future Scope
method for agricultural produce. The solar dryer is a
This study was done by using a solar tunnel dryer
low-cost alternative to open sun drying with the best
that works only in sunshine hours. The auxiliary
results in sensory qualities such as flavor and color of
heater-assisted solar dryer would work at night and
finally dried onion powder. It was free from impurities
in hazy weather also. It will ensure all time operation.
like dust, straws, etc. Farmers would not need to bear
losses due to varying market prices and post-harvest
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