Controlling the Temperature and Humidity of the Solar Dryer with the IoT System

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to: 1) design and build a solar dryer that controls the temperature and humidity with IoT system, 2) study the performance of a solar dryer that controls the temperature and humidity with IoT system, and 3) assess the satisfaction of the users. Using a solar dryer that controls the temperature and humidity with the IoT system, the sample group included 10 seafood processing farmers derived by purposive sampling technique from Kanchanadit District Surat Thani Province. The research instruments were data record format and satisfaction questionnaire. The research statistics included frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.

The results of the research were as follows: 1) the solar dryer consisted of 6-compartments of 3 layers using electricity energy from solar system panels.  The temperature in the dryer is set by the IoT system at 50 ºC via an application from a smartphone.  When the temperature is low, the lamp is activated and when the temperature is high, the fan blows out the air so that the temperature in the dryer can be kept at 50 ºC at all times. 2) The results of the humidity performance test of 3 raw materials which were set the humidity at 40%, 25% and 20% respectively showed that when the moisture content of the three raw materials was reduced to the set value, the dryer would display a notification to the smartphone application every time. Moreover, the color, skin condition and dryness of the baked raw materials passed the sensory test based on the specified criteria and quality. 3) Finally, the results of the users’ satisfaction showed that the overall level was high.