Evaluation of solar drying under forced convection drying cashew pulp.

Actually, pollution produced by non-renewable energy sources is leading for the search of new alternatives. Cashew pulp can be used to obtain dehydrated products minimizing the waste that account for up to 94%. Solar drying of cashew pulp using solar dryer with indirect radiation and forced air flux has been used as a feasible alternative in small farmers once producers can minimize loss as well as add-value for theirs products using this technology. Drying solar of cashew pulp showed good results in which a high quality product was obtained with good taste. The air velocity drying solar of cashew pulp and the thickness of the slices of cashew pulp are important parameters for reduced drying time. To a speed of 6 m/s, cashew slice thickness 1 cm was the drying time of 10 hours and with a thickness of 2 cm drying time was 16 hours. Key-words: solar drying, cashew pulp, indirect radiation REVISTA VERDE DE AGROECOLOGIA E DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTAVEL GRUPO VERDE DE AGRICULTURA ALTERNATIVA (GVAA) ISSN 1981-8203