Experimental Investigation on Open Sun-drying and Solar Drying System of Bilimbi

Asamsunti is a product of bilimbi (Averrhoabilimbi L.) dry, which is low in water content. Currently, bilimbi drying process is under sun radiation. An open system of the drying process is promoting to contaminate of fungi and microbes. Drying apparatus was developed for increasing air temperature by solar radiation through the drying chamber in this experiment. Data of solar radiation, temperature, and mass water content are collected by every an hour (eight hours per day). Temperature increases with increasing index of solar radiation. Initial solar radiation increased and reaches a maximum at noon and then decreases with increasing interval of drying time. A maximum condition obtained of temperature ambient is 33 degrees C at noon, the solar collector is 67 degrees C, and exhaust air temperature is 42 degrees C. A drying time of bilimbi by using drying apparatus is about 24 hours (three days) shorter than open sun radiation is about 40 hours (five days).