Dry your harvest with free solar heat.
SunDry is based on a new design of forced convection solar dryer whose performance was investigated in a peer-reviewed study. Fans move sun-heated air over produce for more controlled drying than open sun.
Traditional drying wastes time and quality
Farmers often dry produce in the open sun or with fuel-fired dryers.
Open-sun exposure
Dust, insects and weather affect product quality.
Fuel costs
Electric and fuel dryers are expensive to run.
Uneven drying
Without airflow control, drying is slow and inconsistent.
A solar dryer with forced airflow
SunDry combines solar heating with fans to dry produce in a closed, controlled chamber.
Runs on the sun
- No fuel for heat
- Low running cost
- Suits sunny regions
Steady drying air
- Fans move hot air
- More even drying
- Closed chamber
Protected produce
- Away from dust
- Away from pests
- Hygienic handling
How SunDry works
How the SunDry design works.
- 1
Collect heat
A solar collector warms incoming air.
Solar collector - 2
Move the air
Fans push heated air through the drying chamber.
Forced convection - 3
Dry the produce
Trays of dates or crops lose moisture steadily.
DatesCrops - 4
Measure
Air temperature and drying performance are tracked.
Performance test
What the research showed
The published study investigated the performance of the new dryer design.
| Feature | Open sun | SunDry |
|---|---|---|
| Heat source | Direct sun | Solar air collector |
| Airflow | Natural, uncontrolled | Fan-driven |
| Protection | Exposed | Closed chamber |
| Fuel use | None | None for heating |
Source: Rezaei et al., Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 50, 101863 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.seta.2021.101863
Who SunDry is for
For growers and processors in sunny, date-producing regions.
Date farmers
- Lower drying costs
- Better product hygiene
- Use local sunshine
Food processors
- Steady drying batches
- Lower energy bills
- Sustainable branding
Agricultural cooperatives
- Shared drying units
- Simple technology
- Reduce post-harvest loss
Where the evidence stands
SunDry is based on an experimental dryer design.
Research design
The dryer was built and tested as a research unit.
Site dependent
Output depends on local sunlight and climate.
Product trials ahead
Testing with more crop types and at larger scale is next.
The team
Founded in 2022 by the research team behind the study.
Khalid Almutairi
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Mohammadhossein Rezaei
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Mohammad Sefid
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Ali Mostafaeipour
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Hoa Xuan Ao
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Seyyed Jalaladdin Hosseini Dehshiri
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Seyyed Shahabaddin Hosseini Dehshiri
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Shahariar Chowdhury
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Kuaanan Techato
Co-author of the SunDry research.
Frequently asked questions
What is forced convection drying?
Using fans to move heated air over the produce instead of relying on natural airflow.
What can it dry?
It targets dates and other agricultural products.
Does it need fuel?
Heat comes from the sun; fans need only a small amount of power.
Who is behind it?
Researchers including Khalid Almutairi.
Peer-reviewed science behind SunDry.
Read the full study behind the product.
Rezaei, M., Sefid, M., Almutairi, K., Mostafaeipour, A., Ao, H. X., Hosseini Dehshiri, S. J., Hosseini Dehshiri, S. S., Chowdhury, S., & Techato, K. (2022). Investigating performance of a new design of forced convection solar dryer. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 50, 101863.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101863