Eternal University files patent for solar dryer

Tribune News Service
Solan, October 20

The Baru Sahib-based Eternal University has developed a low-cost solar drying system, which will benefit the farming community, and has filed a patent for it.

Dr Puneet Negi, assistant professor and head of the physics department, said his team had filed a patent for developing low-cost solar drying system for household applications. It was a thermostatic assorted solar dryer and could be used for various applications, such as drying of agricultural and horticultural products, among other things, he added.

It has been especially designed keeping in view the needs of the local agrarian community, as the farmers grow fruit and vegetables in large numbers. A team of 12 members, led by Dr Negi, took two years to devise the technology for this product.

Besides, funds worth Rs 5.80 lakh have been secured under the development project funded by the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science Technology and Environment.

Dr Negi, who is the principal investigator of this project, said: “The villagers can easily build their own solar dryers using locally available materials. Vegetables and fruit like tomatoes, onions, cabbage, apples, apricots etc can be dried using solar dryers for their use in off season. Farmers can also earn a handsome amount by selling dried products as during the off season, dried products demand goes up.”