Backround
Abstract
The Solar Food Dehydrator that we have built will utilize the power of the sun to remove the water out of various fruits and vegetables. Air will enter through the bottom of the solar catchment where it will be heated and flow into the food drying compartment at the top of the unit. Water vapor will then exit through the vent holes cut into the back door of the food drying box.
Problem statement and criteria
| Criteria | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 10 | Needs to be able to be operated without causing harm to users. Should have weight distributed in such a way that it is hard to fall over. Food must be safe to eat after dehydrated |
| Durability | 10 | Weatherproofing, insect proofing. Should not fall apart when not in use. Will be outside year around. (Door hinging for condensing the unit while not in use), Must last a couple seasons |
| Recycled Materials | 9 | In order to save on costs and uphold standards of Client, using recycled parts is a must. Must be constructed from appropriate materials |
| Insect Proofing | 9 | Food needs to be able to be dehydrated without the risk of bugs contaminating the food since the dehydrator must be outside in order to function |
| Effectiveness | 9 | The unit must function as designed and dehydrate food in a reasonable amount of time |
| Adaptability | 8 | Must be able to change whether it packing it up and taking it to a new location or storing it easily in the off season when dehydration cannot occur. |
| Portability | 8 | Design must be able to be moved about the Sanctuary's available space |
| Ease of Use | 7 | Must be able to be operated by an adult of average intelligence |
| Aesthetics | 7 | Must be built nicely and fit the lifestyle model of the client |
| Cost | 7 | Must be made as cheap as possible |
| Replicability | 6 | People must be able to look at our design and be able to make it for themselves if desired. |
Description of final project
Photos and descriptions. Use gallery.
Include a how to use and maintain section. See the how to template below.
Costs
| Quantity | Material | Source | Cost ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4'x8' -Pine Plywood | The Hardware Store | 22.00 | 44.00 |
| 1 | Corrugated Polycarbonate Plastic - 4' x 4', Transparent | The Hardware Store | 54.00 | 54.00 |
| 146 | Screws (Various Sizes) | The Hardware Store | 16.00 | 16.00 |
| 1 | Black Spray Paint | The Paint Store | 8.50 | 8.50 |
| 1 | Silicone Tube | The Hardware Store | 8.00 | 8.00 |
| 1 | Roll of Mesh Screen | The Hardware Store | 21.00 | 21.00 |
| 1 | Roll of Weatherproof .25”x17’ | The Hardware Store | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Total Cost | $246.60 | |||
Labor
Testing Results
How to build
Template:How to Build the Food Drying Box
Template:How to Build the Heat Catchment
Discussion and next steps
After 274 hours of building this dehydrator, Team BALM has some recommendations in building this dehydrator that will be of use in replication.
References
See Help:Footnotes for more. Template:Reflist