Mathematical modelling of a solar concentrator dryer with an electronic monitoring system for drying Plantain

Abstract

This research presents mathematical modelling of a solar concentrator dryer with an electronic monitoring system for drying Plantain. Drying curves were formed for solar concentrator drying and open sun drying of sliced Plantain on the basis of the graph of moisture ratio against drying time. The drying data were fitted to different mathematical models. From the analysis, the best model for solar concentrator drying of sliced Plantain is Wang and Sing with coefficient of determination, R² = 0.989599, the reduced chi-square test, X² = 0.00147, and root mean square error, RMSE = 0.03527. Also, Wang and Sing is the best model for open sun drying of sliced Plantain with coefficient of determination, R² = 0.983681, the reduced chi-square test, X² = 0.002265, and root mean square error, RMSE = 0.043778. Since the higher the (R²) value and the lower the (X²) and RMSE values, the better the goodness of fit, it was concluded that Wang and Sing is the best model for solar concentrator drying and open sun drying of sliced Plantain.