SOLAR FISH DRIER LARGE CAPACITY

Many coastal regions in the world needs a low cost and hygienic method to process fish for long term storage. India is blessed with 8041 km long coastline and an exploitable marine fish reserve of 4.57 million tons in country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Even though technological leaps have enhanced the fish production, due to the perishable nature of fish, an estimated 21 % of the harvest is lost due to lack of post harvest processing. This results in fishermen losing considerable portion of their profit apart from the loss of considerable nutritional food to the common man. Fish is a highly perishable food product and can be stored for long time only by drying. But the problem affecting the quality of the dried fish is the unhygienic way in which fish is prepared and dried. The open beach drying, results in insects laying egg inside the fish, that renders the product non-consumable
 

Why Solar

Drying is the only preservative method for long storage of fish but mechanical drying needs recurring fossil fuel and hence economically not viable.
Open sun drying renders fish into unhygienic products including a large wastage. Control drying is needed for longer shelf life and solar drying offers a just solution through low cost hygienic method.

What is the PEN solution

A 500 kg capacity solar fish drying unit was installed in 1999 at Vizag, Andrapradesh with the support by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI), Government of India. A 60 m² roof integrated solar collector generates hot air and dries 500 kg of fish charged in a recirculation drier. Good quality dried fish are obtained. Many large capacity fish processing units are installed by PEN. Capacities like 150 kg , 250 kg, 500 kg & 1000 kg/batch are possible. A suitable building and 1 – 2 kW electrical power are needed to run the unit. Back up heating either through biomass or electrical heaters to meet heating demand for non sunny period.
 

Clientele

District Fishermen's Youth Welfare Association, Visakhapatnam, India.

International Marine Edibles Llc. Fujairah. UAE.

Alsons Aquaculture Corp, Philippines.