IOT Based Solar Dehydration System For Chilli Drying

Solar dehydration is an innovative technology that combines renewable energy sources with thermal storage to improve drying efficiency and product quality. This research focuses on developing an Internet of Things (IoT) -based solar dryer for drying chili peppers. The IoT technology enables users to remotely monitor system parameters on mobile phones using an IoT application. The study investigates the integration of solar dryers for agricultural products, specifically focusing on Dominican bananas. It demonstrates the effectiveness of solar-assisted drying systems in reducing moisture content and enhancing the quality of dried chilies by providing controlled and consistent drying conditions. The results highlight the economic and quality benefits of these dryers, although further research on scalability and environmental impact is needed. The system utilizes a DHT22 sensor, which communicates temperature and humidity data to a microcontroller unit (MCU) via a single-wire serial interface. The MCU, an ESP8266-based Node MCU, is programmed using the Arduino IDE to read sensor data and transmit it over Wi-Fi. By connecting the Node MCU to a local Wi-Fi network, it serves a web page displaying real-time temperature and humidity readings. Users can connect their mobile devices to the Wi-Fi network to monitor the system remotely. The solar dehydration system was tested for drying chili samples weighing 2 kg, 5 kg, and 10 kg. The drying times for these samples were 1 hour 15 minutes, 2 hours, and 3 hours 30 minutes, respectively. The system also calculated the humidity levels for each sample, which ranged from 38% to 47%. Additionally, the system monitored and recorded the intensity of solar radiation during the drying process.