Comparative Investigation on Drying Efficiency of the Solar Dryer Using Black Limestone as the Absorber Plate Against the Stainless Steel Absorber Plate for Drying Copra

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the novel black limestone absorber plate with stainless steel absorber plate for its drying efficiency of coconut. Materials and Methods: The sample size for the groups were determined as 20 for each group, a total of 40 for the groups using a simple sample size calculator, with G power of 80% by keeping threshold 0.05, confidence interval 95% and enrollment ratio as 1. The control and experimental groups were chosen as comparative groups. A sample size of 20 was allotted to each group. Coconut samples placed on the stainless steel are taken as a control group and the coconut samples placed on black limestone are taken as the experimental group. Moisture content of these coconut samples were determined with the help of a hot air oven and a formula. Results: The findings reveal that the mean value for the reduction of moisture content for black limestone is 29.06%, while the mean value for the reduction of moisture content for stainless steel is 36.10% of coconut samples. The independent samples t-test found that both groups are statistically significant for the reduction of moisture content, with a p value of 0.030. Conclusion: The drying performance of black limestone and stainless steel absorber plates in terms of moisture content reduction was experimentally tested, and it was discovered that black limestone absorber plate has a lesser drying efficiency than stainless steel absorber plate.