Integrated Solar Devices for Rural Areas: Experiments on Drying Mushroom
Abstract
Solar devices and PV systems are useful for different domestic agricultural and cottage industrial purposes. However, it is important to integrate solar devices for making it useful round the year for one or other purpose and thus making it more economically viable (Pande, 2011). Attempts have been made earlier to develop dual purpose solar devices such as solar cooker cum dryer (Pande and Thanvi, 1988) and solar water heater cum dryer (Pande and Thanvi, 1991) and with emphasis on optimized geometry and design to get better performance in stationary mode. The experience gained on these devices was used to design and develop three-in-one integrated solar device (solar water heater-cum-cooker cum-dryer) .