Performance Analysis of Scheffler Solar Concentrator for Turmeric Blanching

Abstract:

Blanching is an important stage of post harvesting processing of turmeric, which destroys the viability of the fresh rhizomes and eliminates the raw odor. Large amount of crop residue and wood is consumed during conventional turmeric boiling process. Solar-based turmeric blanching system had been developed to show the viability of concentrated solar power for agricultural produce processing and contribute to CO₂ mitigation. Experiments were conducted for several days in the month of April 2019, to study the performance of 16-m² Scheffler concentrator for turmeric blanching. Turmeric was blanched in batches of 10 kg. Average 110 kg turmeric was successfully processed in a day. From the experimental data analysis, it is perceived that the thermal performance of the system directly depends on beam radiation. Average efficiency of 19.35 % was achieved with average beam radiation 721 W/m². Minimum blanching time was found as 27 minutes with an average steam flow rate 5.30 kg/hr. Power available at reflector, receiver, and blanching vessel is presented to identify energy losses at each component of blanching system.

• Periodical: Advanced Engineering Forum (Volume 36)
• Pages: 13-22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AEF.36.13
• Online since: June 2020
• Authors: Dnyaneshwar Malwad*, Vinod B. Tungikar
• Keywords: Agricultural Produce Processing, Concentrated Solar Power, Scheffler Concentrator, Thermal Efficiency, Turmeric Blanching

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