Evaluation of Solar Thermal Drying Potential Related with Fish Drying Product in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka is situated close to the equator; therefore most of the parts of the country receive an abundant solar radiation throughout the year. As estimated in the solar resource map developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the USA, it varies from 4.0 - 4.5 kWh/m2/day. But solar thermal energy-related applications are limited in commercial forms. However, solar energy is the most popular form of energy in the day to day life.T he one of the most common commercial applications of solar energy in Sri Lanka is fish drying process such as products of dry fish, and Maldivian fish. In general, the small-scale fish drying process is used to open sun drying techniques for their products. But this method has several drawbacks such as poor quality, high drying time, and contaminations. Solar dryer is providing the effective solution for this kind of product drying purposes. Research methodology is the comparison of two technologies with field data.T his paper presents the overview of solar thermal drying potential and financial viability of fish dying process in Sri Lanka.