Solar Drying of Sandfish Using Novel Dryer Integrated with a Combination of Fins and Thermal Storage: An Experimental Investigation in Sahara Algeria

This research article evaluates the performance of an Inverted Solar Collector (ISC) dryer for drying Sandfish in the Sahara region of Algeria (El-Oued City). Experimental studies compared an ISC dryer equipped with copper fins (CF) and paraffin wax (PCM) latent heat storage to an ISC dryer without CF-PCM, as well as to natural sun drying. Performance assessment considered both thermal efficiency and product quality. Sandfish with an initial moisture content of 73.18% were dried to a final moisture content of 11.34% (wet basis) in 43 h using the ISC dryer with CF-PCM, in 55 h using the ISC dryer without CF-PCM and over 100 h with natural sun drying. Results demonstrate a reduction in drying time of 27.90% compared to the ISC dryer without CF-PCM and up to 100% compared to natural sun drying. Additionally, solar drying enhanced the water, ash, protein, and lipid content of the dried Sandfish. Experimental findings revealed that the dried Sandfish contained 55.7% protein and 13.4% lipids, compared to 19.6 and 2.8%, respectively, in fresh Sandfish. From a nutritional quality perspective, the ISC dryer with CF-PCM proved to be the most effective method for Sandfish preserving.