Drying, dehydration, sterilization and pasteurization are activities that are used for the processing and storing of food and other agricultural and agroindustrial products. In these processes different sources of energy are... [ view full abstract ]
Drying, dehydration, sterilization and pasteurization are activities that are used for the processing and storing of food and other agricultural and agroindustrial products. In these processes different sources of energy are applied: electricity, fossil energy, wood and others. With the support of the local Pilot Program of Solar Energy Use in Northern Region of Costa Rica (executed jointly by the Technological Institute of Costa Rica and the Ministry of Agriculture) several solar thermal systems have been designed, applied and evaluated, at the level of small and medium producers in the area. Different production processes, substituting traditional options, for solar options and clean production systems, seeking to lower the local carbon footprint and improve production systems were included.
Several types of solar thermal systems have been designed and evaluated, namely: hybrid thermosiphons with electric auxiliary system, to sterilize milking equipment; forced hybrids with water and LP gas to sterilize and pasteurize milk, forced hybrids with water, hot air and LP gas, to be used to dry and dehydrate agricultural and agroindustrial products and a passive solar dryer for different types of seeds. The basic designed prototypes are shown, located in the Northen Region of Costa Rica.
The evaluations of the thermal systems were carried out through the use and testing of the different processes with satisfactory results. Among these processes it is possible to metion: milking equipment sterilization, pasteurization of milk, drying and dehydration of several products among them, pineapple, pumpkin, turmeric, ginger, coffee, cocoa, beans and corn. Information on the operation of the systems was obtained through a computerized data system and the location of thermocouples in the key locations of the systems used and their location in the cloud in order to download the data from any electronic device.
Keywords: Solar thermal systems for agricultural and agro-industrial processes
