SHED 2
Solar Dryer
NFIC-KUP-U04-02
Machine at a glance
Unit
Unit 4 — Vegetable & Fruit Processing
Shed / location
SHED 2
Manufacturer
Suga Agro Tech
Actual capacity / range
Minimum 250 Sq. Ft. effective drying area
What this machine helps make
Fermented & dehydrated ready mix for Idli/Dosa batter
Use / Function in this Product: Tray/Truck drier
Fruit/vegetable dehydration (incl. Banana)
Use / Function in this Product: Drier
Low fat expanded green snack using moringa
Use / Function in this Product: Drying unit
Malted cereal/Ragi ready-to-eat weaning food
Use / Function in this Product: Drier
Pickles & chutneys
Use / Function in this Product: Mechanical dryer
Turmeric powder from fresh turmeric rhizome
Use / Function in this Product: Drier
Food colours: natural - Beetroot, Safflower, Kokum & Grapes
Use / Function in this Product: Vacuum shelf drier
Fruit jams & jellies
Use / Function in this Product: Bottle drier
Instant cake mix
Use / Function in this Product: Dryer which are available indigenously
Jowar cereal flakes
Use / Function in this Product: Drier
Low-GI beverage for diabetics
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Malted Ragi flour - enzyme rich
Use / Function in this Product: Dryers
Mango fruit bar
Use / Function in this Product: Drier
Modified-atmosphere packaging of minimally processed vegetables
Use / Function in this Product: Hot air dryer
Shelf-stable Jowar flour
Use / Function in this Product: Dryer
Banana fruit bar
Use / Function in this Product: Hot air drier
Convenience flour from Ragi / Instant Ragi Mudde mix
Use / Function in this Product: Truck drier
Fruit bars (Apple/Banana/Guava/Mango)
Use / Function in this Product: Drier
Instant coffee cubes
Use / Function in this Product: 24 Tray drier
Low-GI noodles
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Multigrain/legume pasta
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Raw banana powder (unripe)
Use / Function in this Product: Hot air drier
Ready-to-eat low-fat maize snacks
Use / Function in this Product: Dryer
Spice mix: Puliyogare
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Banana juice
Use / Function in this Product: Hot air drier
Coffee leaf brew mix
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Dehydrated drumstick powder
Use / Function in this Product: Dryer
Fortified mango bar
Use / Function in this Product: Hot air drier
Instant products from Moringa Leaves
Use / Function in this Product: Cross flow hot air drier
Instant traditional Rasam
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Instant traditional Sambar
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Jamoon fruit products: (squash, RTS beverage, syrup)
Use / Function in this Product: Hot air drier
Papaya tuti frooti
Use / Function in this Product: Tray dryer
Processing of cocoa beans to: Cocoa mass, Cocoa butter, Cocoa powder
Use / Function in this Product: Tray drier
Protein-enriched Ragi vermicelli
Use / Function in this Product: Dryer
Ragi decortication
Use / Function in this Product: Dryer
Ready mix: Cake
Use / Function in this Product: Dryer which are available indigenously
Operating SOP
1. Pre-operation checklist
• Polycarbonate panels wiped clean — dust reduces solar heat gain by 30%
• Drying trays washed, dried, and lined as required
• Airflow vents FULLY OPEN
• No previous produce residue on trays
• Drying trays washed, dried, and lined as required
• Airflow vents FULLY OPEN
• No previous produce residue on trays
2. Start-up procedure
1. Spread sliced produce on trays in SINGLE LAYER — overlapping = uneven drying
2. Load trays by 8:00 AM to maximise sun hours
2. Load trays by 8:00 AM to maximise sun hours
3. Operating steps / parameters
1. Spread sliced produce on trays in SINGLE LAYER — overlapping = uneven drying
2. Load trays by 8:00 AM to maximise sun hours
3. Check progress every 2 hours — turn produce if required
4. Drying time: Banana 6–8 hrs | Gongura 4–6 hrs | Mango 8–10 hrs | Drumstick 6–8 hrs
5. Test: product should be leathery (slices) or brittle (for powder). No moisture when pressed.
6. Remove trays by 5:00 PM — evening humidity reverses drying
2. Load trays by 8:00 AM to maximise sun hours
3. Check progress every 2 hours — turn produce if required
4. Drying time: Banana 6–8 hrs | Gongura 4–6 hrs | Mango 8–10 hrs | Drumstick 6–8 hrs
5. Test: product should be leathery (slices) or brittle (for powder). No moisture when pressed.
6. Remove trays by 5:00 PM — evening humidity reverses drying
4. Shutdown procedure
6. Remove trays by 5:00 PM — evening humidity reverses drying
5. Cleaning / sanitation
• Remove all produce
• Wash trays
• Wipe polycarbonate panels
• Close airflow vents at night — prevents dust ingress
• Log: produce type | quantity loaded | drying time | moisture test result | weather condition
• Wash trays
• Wipe polycarbonate panels
• Close airflow vents at night — prevents dust ingress
• Log: produce type | quantity loaded | drying time | moisture test result | weather condition
6. Safety / PPE
• Interior gets EXTREMELY HOT in peak sun — heatproof gloves when handling mid-day trays
7. Troubleshooting
Panels cracked or yellowing (UV degradation — replace panels) | Tray mesh torn (replace — insect entry risk) — call supervisor
8. Preventive maintenance
Routine prevention is embedded in the pre-operation and post-operation checks; no separate time-based preventive-maintenance interval is stated on the source card.