EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON BANANA PSEUDOSTEM DRYING USING A COMBINED SOLAR ENERGY AND AUXILIARY HEATING

Abstract

Dried banana pseudostem sheaths with a moisture content below 12% have experienced increasing global demand in recent years. However, an economically efficient drying solution for this product has not yet been widely established. This study presents key operating parameters of a solar-assisted drying system combining direct and indirect drying modes with auxiliary heating to reduce the moisture content of banana sheaths from 92.9% to below 12%. The drying process was conducted at a hot air temperature of 50°C for 25 hours, compared to 40 hours required under traditional sun drying. These parameters can serve as a basis for the development of a large-scale greenhouse-type drying system, offering improved efficiency in terms of energy consumption, labor, and processing time for dried banana sheath production.