Shuliy’s small mobile solar drying machine is a new type of drying equipment designed for households, individuals, and small producers. It can be used to dry vegetables, fruits, grains, meat, and more.
The temperature of this mini solar dryer is automatically controlled by an intelligent thermostat. The working temperature can be adjusted between 30°C and 60°C. It is equipped with a 50W solar panel that powers a 12V DC fan, with a daily drying capacity of 20–100 KG.
This product is compact and flexible, ideal for areas with limited electricity. It avoids problems of traditional open-air drying such as dust and rain, improving drying speed, product quality, and color. By using solar energy to generate heat it saves a large amount of electricity, making it an economical, green, and energy-saving solution.
Principle of solar drying machine
The solar dryer mainly relies on solar photovoltaic panels and solar thermal conversion to complete the drying process. It uses solar power to drive the fan for air circulation and solar heat to warm the air, achieving even drying of the materials. The whole system is a clean, energy-saving, and low-cost closed drying system.
Working Process
1. Solar Power Supply
The 50W solar panel (18V DC) on the top absorbs sunlight and converts it into electricity.
This power drives the 12V DC fan to keep the air circulating.
2. Air Heating and Circulation
The dryer chamber is made of double-sided galvanized insulation panels, 50mm thick, which help maintain a stable temperature.
The internal air is heated by solar radiation, and the fan pushes the hot air to circulate evenly through each drying tray.
This ensures uniform heating of materials and speeds up moisture evaporation.
3. Dehumidification and Temperature Control
After evaporation, the moist air is discharged through the top or side adjustable vent (Φ150mm rotating outlet).
The built-in intelligent temperature control system automatically monitors and maintains the temperature between 30°C and 60°C, adjustable for different materials.
4. Enclosed Protective Structure
The upper cover is made of low-iron patterned tempered glass with an aluminum alloy frame. It offers good light transmission, pressure resistance, and corrosion protection.
The drying process is fully enclosed, effectively preventing dust, insects, and rain from entering, ensuring cleanliness and high product quality.
Construction of solar drying machine
Structural overview
The solar drying machine is composed of a drying box main body, solar panels, a circulating fan, a dehumidifying fan, an intelligent temperature and humidity control system, trays, casters, and PTC electric heaters.
- The drying box
The outside box is a large oven, it was made of a 5cm double-sided galvanized sheet, and the frame is supported by a 6cm stainless steel bracket. The upper cover plate is a 32 mm-thick low-iron toughened glass, surrounded by an aluminum alloy electrophoretic frame; the workmanship is well-fitted to ensure overall thermal efficiency.
2. Internal structure
All four internal walls are equipped with heat-absorbing panels, and the surface is filled with dense small holes to help absorb solar radiation to the maximum and improve thermal efficiency.
3. Solar panel
The size of the solar panel is 530*410mm. It is installed on the left side of the solar drying box. It can be folded when not in use, which is convenient and practical.
4. Circulating fan and dehumidifying fan
Both are driven by High-power fans, hot air circulation devices, and moisture discharge devices.
Automatic control device
The control system adopts embedded installation, which is safer and more beautiful. It can achieve temperature and humidity automatic control. The equipment will automatically stop when reaching the required temperature and humidity.
Stainless steel tray
The inner tray and the bracket of the box body can be flexibly combined with a 40X40 perforated structure, and the height and the distance between the trays can be adjusted freely. Galvanized screws can be easily adjusted with a screwdriver. There are rollers on the bottom, which are convenient to push in and pull out, which is also conducive to transportation between the warehouse and the solar drying box. The tray size is 59X40X2cm, and the material is stainless steel 304 sanitary grade to ensure product quality.
Casters
There are four casters at the bottom of the box, two for guiding and two for positioning, which makes it convenient and flexible to move.
Advantages of the solar dehydrator
- Compact and portable: The dryer is small, measuring 2 m long, 1 m wide, and 1 m high. It is easy to move. With wheels, it can be pushed by hand or towed by a small tractor, tricycle, or mower, allowing it to be placed in sunny spots or moved between households.
- Sturdy and ready to use: The structure is strong and requires no installation. It is low-cost, highly efficient, and ready to use immediately.
- Adjustable temperature: The drying temperature can be set between 30–60°C to meet the needs of different materials.
- Multipurpose and protective: It protects materials from flies, pests, rain, and dust while being suitable for multiple types of drying tasks.
- Long lifespan: Designed without easily worn parts, the dryer can last up to 25 years.
Applications of solar food dryer
Small mobile solar drying oven is widely used in pharmaceutical, chemical, food, aquatic products, light industry, and agricultural and sideline products.
Raw materials: Chinese herbal medicine pieces, powders, crude drugs, dehydrated vegetables, food, dried fruits, sausages, plastic resin, meat, etc.
Parameter of the solar dehydrator
There are three types of solar dehydrators, and the following are their configuration lists.
Type 1: SL-A solar dehydrator
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Solar Panel | 50W, 18V DC |
| Top Cover | 3.5 mm low-iron patterned tempered glass with aluminum alloy electrophoresis frame |
| Support Frame | 6 mm stainless steel (SUS304) |
| Handle Material | Stainless steel (SUS304) |
| Chamber Material | Double-sided galvanized panels (5 cm each side, total thickness 50 mm) |
| Circulation Fan | German EBM 12V 16W cast iron, high-temperature resistant |
| Tray Support | Black perforated galvanized C-steel with hand-tightening screws, adjustable size |
| Manual Vent | Adjustable rotating vent, diameter 150 mm |
| Wheels | Four 1.5-inch cast iron wheels, each supports 100 kg; two with brakes |
| Stainless Steel Trays | 12 rectangular perforated trays, 600×400×40 mm |
Notes: SL-A is suitable for most materials. It uses a semi-open drying method, fully utilizing solar energy without the need for any additional energy sources.
Type 2: SL-B solar dehydrator
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Solar Panel | 50W, 18V DC |
| Top Cover | 3.5 mm low-iron patterned tempered glass with aluminum alloy electrophoresis frame |
| Support Frame | 6 mm stainless steel (SUS304) |
| Handle Material | Stainless steel (SUS304) |
| Chamber Material | Double-sided galvanized panels (5 cm each side, total thickness 50 mm) |
| Tray Support | Black perforated galvanized C-steel with hand-tightening screws, adjustable size |
| Circulation / Exhaust Fan | German EBM 12V 16W cast iron, high-temperature resistant |
| Temperature & Humidity Controller | Embedded smart controller for precise temperature control, safe and aesthetically neat |
| Wheels | Four 1.5-inch wheels, each supports 100 kg; two with brakes |
| Stainless Steel Trays | 12 rectangular perforated trays, 600×400×40 mm |
Notes: SL-B is based on the SL-A model, with the addition of an exhaust fan that automatically runs intermittently to remove moisture.
Type 3: SL-C solar dehydrator
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Solar Panel | 50W, 18V DC |
| Top Cover | 3.5 mm low-iron patterned tempered glass with aluminum alloy electrophoresis frame |
| Support Frame | 6 mm stainless steel (SUS304) |
| Handle Material | Stainless steel (SUS304) |
| Chamber Material | Double-sided galvanized panels (5 cm each side, total thickness 50 mm) |
| Tray Support | Black perforated galvanized C-steel with hand-tightening screws, adjustable size |
| Circulation Fan | German EBM 12V 16W cast iron, high-temperature resistant |
| Exhaust Fan | German EBM 12V 16W cast iron, high-temperature resistant |
| Temperature & Humidity Controller | Embedded smart controller for precise temperature control, safe and aesthetically neat |
| Wheels | Four 1.5-inch wheels, each supports 100 kg; two with brakes |
| Stainless Steel Trays | 12 rectangular perforated trays, 600×400×40 mm |
| PTC Electric Heater | Ceramic electric heater, 1800W, 220V |
Notes: SL-C is based on the SL-B model, with the addition of an electric heating device. It can dry continuously all day and automatically remove moisture intermittently. This model requires a 220V power supply.
Reference for model suitability by specific material types
- SL-A: Suitable for most fruits (e.g., apples, pears, mangoes, bananas), vegetables (e.g., carrots, tomatoes, chili peppers), grains (e.g., corn, wheat, rice), and herbs (e.g., mint, basil). Best for sunny areas, relying solely on solar energy. Ideal for small-scale or occasional drying.
- SL-B: Suitable for the same materials as SL-A, with the addition of an exhaust fan to remove moisture automatically. Better for high-moisture fruits (e.g., strawberries, tomatoes) and vegetables (e.g., cucumbers, bell peppers) or slightly larger batches.
- SL-C: Suitable for all the above materials and can operate continuously all day. The electric heating device works even when sunlight is insufficient. Ideal for large-scale or continuous drying, such as apple slices, mango slices, chili peppers, and grains
If you have any questions about the model specifications, you can contact us via the pop-up on the right. We will guide you on how to choose the right solar dryer.
Cases of exporting solar drying machine
Here is the feedback from two customers, showing the results of the dried products.
Solar air drying machine VS. traditional drying method
| Item | Traditional Drying (Electric Drying) | Solar Air Collector Drying |
|---|---|---|
| Material to be dried | Raw material: 300 kg, initial moisture 80%, final moisture 10% | Same |
| Drying time | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| Moisture removed | 233.3 kg | 233.3 kg |
| Drying method | Electric drying | Solar air collector drying |
| Energy consumption | 184 kWh | 4.44 kWh |
| Energy price | $0.1682 / kWh | $0.1682 / kWh |
| Operating cost | $30.96 | $0.74 |
| Environmental benefit (harmful emissions reduction) | / | / |
| SO₂ | $0.48 | $0.01 |
| NOₓ | $0.28 | $0.01 |
| Smoke | $0.06 | $0.00 |
| CO₂ | $0.18 | $0.00 |
| Total environmental benefit | $0.99 | $0.02 |
| Total operating cost | $31.96 | $0.84 |
Summary
Under the same drying load conditions, the operating cost of the solar air drying machine is extremely low, mainly due to minimal power use for the fan and dehumidification systems. It produces no harmful emissions during operation, making it highly environmentally friendly. As long as there is sufficient sunlight, it can utilize abundant natural solar energy freely, clean drying with no cost.
If you need a larger dryer, Shuliy also offers industrial-scale drying rooms and stainless steel dryers, which can meet all your drying requirements.
