Innovation: Dehydrator is 8.50 high by 5.30 wide. It is solar powered. Hot air produced when the blower takes the heat from the elements on the two sides at the chambers is carried through into the hearth of the dehydrator from the inlet below the trays by convection on the mass (vegetable/fruit), extract water is expelled by the extractor to the atmosphere leaving humid air in the hearth. (Controlled Air). Suction is created by the effects of centrifugal force acting upon the spinning air within the fan. As the fan rotates, the spinning air moves outward away from the hub, creating a partial vacuum which causes more air to flow into the fan. It is also solar powered especially for rural areas.

Sector/Industry Application: Agriculture

Description: There is a high market demand for dehydrated vegetables. A dehydrator is a device that removes moisture from food and other biological materials to aid in its preservation. The Vaccum dehydrator has inbuilt temperature and humidity control. It has an attached solar system as an alternative source of power. It has a unique vacuum system that enables the machine dry materials without damaging their constituents. Peeled and unpeeled Madus domestica (apple) and Telfeiria occidentalis leaf (ugu) were dried in the dehydrator and its performance was compared with the same vegetable and fruit dried in a hot air dehydrator based on moisture content at the same temperature and drying time. Evaluating the equipment (vacuum dehydrator), peeled apple (PA) was dried in 5 hours at 45 oC to 86.7% moisture content removal while unpeeled apple (UP) had removed moisture content of 78.7%. PA and UP dried in a hot air dehydrator had moisture content of 80% and 73.3% removed respectively. Ugu dried in 2hrs in the vacuum dehydrator with 81.3% moisture content out, while the moisture content removed at the same time in a hot air oven was 66.6% at the same drying time. Vacuum dehydrator performed better than the imported hot air oven based on the present comparison. The colour of Ugu and apple dried in both dehydrators were equally appealing to the eyes. The Vacuum dehydrator therefore promises to contribute to postharvest preservation of agricultural products.

Problem: 1. The dehydrator will contribute to solving post harvest spoilage of vegetables and fruits. 2. Preservation of fruits and vegetables for home use and export purposes