Comparative feature on design, construction and installation of three different model of low cost solar tunnel dryers

The study was conducted in collaboration with the ECFC project of the FAO (BGD/97/017) in Cox's Bazar to develop a low cost solar tunnel dryer for the production of high quality marine dried fish. The study areas were Kutubdiapara, Maheshkhali and Shahparirdip under Cox's Bazar district. Three different models of low cost solar dryer were constructed with locally available materials such as bamboo, wood, bamboo mat, hemp, canvas, wire, nails, rope, tin, polythene and net. Size of the dryers were: 20x4x3 ft ; 30x3x3 ft and 65x3x3 ft with the costs of Tk. 3060, 3530, 9600 for dryer 1, 2 and 3, respectively having different models. The drying capacities were 50, 150, 500 kg for dryer 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The average temperature range inside the dryers were 29-43°C, 34-51°C and 37-57°C for dryer 1, 2 and 3 respectively as recorded at 8:30h to 16:30h. The relative humidity were in the ranges of 22-42%, 27-39% and 24-41 % in dryer 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The fish samples used were Bombay duck, Silver Jew fish and Ribbon fish. The total drying time was in the range of 30-42, 28-38 and 24-34 hours to reach the moisture content of 12.3-14.5, 11.8-14.3, and 11.6-14.1% in dryer 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Among these three fish samples the drying was faster in Silver Jew fish followed by Bombay duck and Ribbon fish in all the three dryer.

Quality assessment of traditional and solar tunnel dried SIS (Small Indigenous Fish Species) products

Studies were conducted to assessment the quality of traditional and solar tunnel dried SIS products. The moisture content of the solar products ranged from 14.38 to 18.48% with the lowest in batashi and the highest value in tengra. The moisture content of the traditional products was in the range of 23.26 to 26.42%. The range of protein contents on moisture free basis was from 67.57 to 71.90% in solar dried fishes with highest value obtained in dhela and lowest value in batashi. These values were more or less similar to those of traditional dried SIS products which were in the range of 68.02 to 73.54% on dry weight basis. Lipid contents of solar dried SIS varied from 14.10 to 16.26% and on moisture free basis the in the range of 11.73 to 21.98 with highest value found in tengra and lowest in puti. These values were more or less similar to those found for traditional dried products on dry weight basis and ranged from were 12.37 to 22.43%. Maximum reconstitution of solar dried products was obtained at 80°C in all samples and was in the range of 65.26 to 70.51% where the percentage of reconstitution increases with the increase of socking time and reach maximum at the end of up to 60 min. The TVB-N content of solar dried fish is low compared with traditional one ranging from 20.30 to 28.40mg/100g and peroxide value in the range of 12. 54 to 19.20meq./kg oil. The TVB-N of traditionally dried products were in the range of 32.50 to 45.45mg/100g and PO values of the traditionally dried products were in the range of 30.00 to 36.00meq./kg oil. The bacterial load of the solar dried products was in the range of 4.0x10 super(3)/g to 3.6x10 super(5)CFU/g and of the traditionally dried products ranged from 1.45x10 super(5) to 2.52x10 super(6) CFU/g.

Quality assessment of traditional, rotary and solar tunnel dried small indigenous fish species products

Studies on the quality assessments of three traditional, rotary and solar tunnel dried SIS products were conducted. Organoleptic quality of traditional dried SIS products available in the markets was poor compared to those produced in rotary and solar tunnel dryer. Reconstitution of samples were in the range of 54.26% to 75.24%, 69.37% to 83.73% and 55.08% to 80.24% when soaked at 80°C for traditional, rotary and solar tunnel dried products, respectively. The percentage of reconstitution increased with the increase of soaking time and the uptake of water was maximum after 60 min of soaking. The moisture contents of traditional, rotary and solar tunnel dried products were in the range of 26.02% to 27.33%, 16.23% to 22.84% and 13.71% to 19.30%, respectively. The protein contents were in the range of 60.78% to 72.59%, 62.17% to 76.27% and 61.11% to 76.00%, respectively; lipid contents were in the range of 12.26% to 22.60%, 14.00% to 24.71% and 13.92% to 22.39%, respectively and ash contents in the range of 15.11% to 16.59%, 8.32% to 13.51% and 8.71% to 16.45%, respectively on dry matter basis. The TVB-N content of rotary and solar tunnel dried products was low compared to traditional one ranging from 10.64 to 17.52 mg/100g and 14.34 to 15.68 mg/100g, respectively whereas the TVB-N content of traditional samples was in the range of 15.46 to 20.36 mg/100g. The bacterial load of traditional, rotary and solar tunnel dried products were in the range of 1.43x10 super(8) CFU/g to 2.89 x10 super(80 CFU/g, 1.91x10 super(8) CFU/g to 2.84x10 super(8) CFU/g and 1.95x10 super(8) CFU/g to 2.59x10 super(8) CFU/g, respectively. The results of the study indicated that dried fish products from rotary dryer and solar tunnel dryer were found to be of better quality in nutritional and food quality aspects than those of traditional dried products.

Shelf-life of rotary and solar tunnel dried SIS products under different packaging and storage conditions

A study was conducted on the shelf-life of rotary and solar tunnel dried SIS products under different packaging and storage conditions. Organoleptically dried products were found in good condition after a storage period of 60 days in ambient and chilled conditions. The moisture content, TVB-N value and bacterial load slightly increased during 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled conditions. The changes in moisture content and bacterial load were faster in ambient temperature than in chilled storage condition whereas changes in TVB-N value was higher in chilled condition than in ambient temperature. The initial moisture content was in the range of 13.71% to 22.84%. After 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled condition the moisture content of dried products was in the range of 15.09% to 25.11% and 14.49% to 25.01%, respectively. The initial TVB-N value was in the range of 10.64 to 17.52 mg/100g and after 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled condition, TVB-N value was in the range of 29.00 to 34.82 mg/100g and 31.41 to 39.11 mg/100g, respectively. The initial bacterial load was in the range of 1.91x10 super(8) to 2.84x10 super(8) and after 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled condition, the bacterial load was in the range of 6.2x10 super(8) to 1.8x10 super(9) and 5.75x10 super(7) to 5.05x10 super(8) CFU/g, respectively. The results of the present study indicated that it is necessary to store high quality dried products in sealed packed in chilled condition to ensure good quality up to a certain period of time.

Production of quality dried small indigenous fish species products using low cost solar tunnel drier

A low cost solar drier was constructed using locally available materials. The size of the drier was 20x3.6x3 having drying capacity of 80 kg of SIS (w/w). Optimization of moisture content was observed for mola, dhela, chapila, chanda and puti at temperature ranges between 40-45°C and 50-55°C in solar tunnel drier. There was little or no change in moisture content at temperature below 40°C during the first 3 hours. Then the moisture content declined gradually with the increase of drying period. On the other hand, at temperature between 50-55°C, moisture content started to decline after 2 hours of drying. The moisture content of the sample reached at about 16% after 26 hours of sun drying at 40-45°C and 20 hours at 50-55°C. The optimum temperature for producing high quality dried products was 45-50°C in solar tunnel drier. The temperature and relative humidity outside and inside the dryers (with fish) at various locations were recorded from 8.00am to 4.00pm. The normal atmospheric ambient temperature was recorded in the range of 25-37°C from at 8:00am to 4:00pm. During the same period the atmospheric relative humidity recorded was in the range of 30-58%. On the other hand, the maximum temperature inside the dryers was recorded in the range of 28-65°C. The lowest temperature recorded was 28°C in the morning and at 13.00pm the highest temperature 65°C was recorded. The maximum relative humidity 58% found in the afternoon and minimum of 28% at noon. There was inverse relationship between temperature intensity of sunshine and humidity which decreased as sunshine increased. In total, it took around 26 hours of drying to reduce the moisture level to about 16%.