permaculture

Workshop Module 12: Appropriate Technology 329

Creative thinking : Make a solar drier

Method : Practical demonstration model building

Tools : See preparations below

References : PC Book MOD 12 - Appropriate Technology

Objective : Participants make and test simple solar driers

There are a number of pictures describing different types of driers in the “Solar driers”
section of PC Book MOD 12 – Appropriate Technology. Each type requires different
materials and different amounts of time to construct. If appropriate for the workshop
other styles of solar driers can be built, but this will require more information, tools,
and materials. Some experience in building and using these types of solar driers is
recommended for facilitating these exercises.

For this exercise the plastic solar drier can be easily made in a short period of time.

Preparation

• Prepare enough of the “Solar driers” section of the PC Book MOD 12 –
  Appropriate Technologies, so that each participant can take one set of
  references home.


• Identify the location for the solar drier – A sunny and dry place is required,
  preferably not exposed to too much strong wind.

Collect the materials and tools needed for making the solar drier:

• Strong clear plastic - For a large solar drier approximately 9m x 2m, for
  smaller driers much less is needed


• Wood for the solar drier frame - 13m x 2m and 6m x 1m lengths.


• Wood for the inside shelves - 12m x 1.75m and 8cm x 80cm lengths will be
  enough to make 4 shelves.


• Good quality small hole wire mesh for preventing any insects entering
  
  
  • Approximately 2.2m x 1m.
  
  
  
  


• Wire or plastic mesh for the shelves - Approximately 7.5m x 1m.


• Medium and small size nails for making the frame - Approximately
  100 nails.


• Small nails/tacks for attaching the plastic and wire mesh -
  Approximately 100 nails/tacks.


• Hammers, saws, measuring tape, scissors, and other tools.


• 4 tin cans to put the shelf legs into.


• Water to put in the tin cans.


• Small rocks placed on the ground inside the solar drier once it is
  finished - The rocks will collect and store heat.

EXERCISE

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