A dryer is constructed and arranged to dry vegetable product, such as coffee
beans.
The dryer includes a thermal collector that is constructed and arranged to convert
solar energy to heat energy, a heat transfer system, and a housing that defines
a drying chamber. The thermal collector is positioned toward a light source and
is thermally connected to the heat transfer system. The heat transfer system is
also in thermal communication with the drying chamber. Therefore heat is able to
move from the thermal collector to the drying chamber. Convective forces, or flow,
can be used to move air inside the drying chamber, but photovoltaic energy could
also be used to enhance this effect.
