Optimizing Fish Drying: Design and Testing of an Innovative Solar Dryer
Annisa Nurulhuda, Amanda Resmana, Nanda Riska (*) annisa.nurulhuda@kopernik.info

Kopernik, Indonesia

Abstract

The fishing community in Lhok Kruet village, Aceh, faces challenges in effectively drying anchovies and small shrimps. Presently, they rely on traditional floor drying methods, which prove inadequate during rainy or nighttime conditions, leading to spoilage of their catch. To overcome this issue, we developed a low cost solar dryer.

The solar dryer underwent two stages of experimentation: (i) an in house prototyping phase (at the Kopernik office) where we designed and built two different prototypes, and select the most effective solar dryer design, and (ii) a full scale solar dryer built in the project location to test its performance in real world conditions. During stage (i), the solar dryer prototype, equipped with a solar collector, demonstrated promising results. It increased peak temperatures and extended the duration of temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, achieving the lowest relative humidity (RH) of 35 percent with a stable change, which was 7.5 percent lower than the prototype without a solar collector.

Subsequent testing at the project site revealed that the solar dryer design with a solar collector outperformed traditional floor drying methods. It exhibited higher peak temperatures (5.85 degrees Celsius), a gradual temperature increase, and a lower surge in RH (9.5 percent). These findings demonstrate that the solar dryer design can maintain optimal drying conditions for extended
periods.

Overall, the solar dryer presents a promising and sustainable solution to improve the drying process for anchovies and small shrimps, benefiting the fishers community in Lhok Kruet village and potentially addressing their drying difficulties in the long run.

Keywords: Solar dryer, solar collector, temperature, humidity

Topic: Fisheries and marine technology