College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Manufacturing Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Electrical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Electrical Engineering
Date
6-2020
Primary Advisor
Karla Carichner, College of Engineering, Materials Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
The RaySuns senior project team was tasked with lowering the drying costs of raisins for River Ranch Raisins. In doing so, we explored several options for cutting costs: utilizing automation and exploring new drying technologies were our primary focus. We eventually planned a modular infrared heating mechanism which would be easy to automate in future projects. After manufacturing and testing an infrared heating mechanism, it was found that infrared drying could significantly cut costs versus the previous natural gas fired dryer tunnels while leaving room for automation. The infrared dryer was also shown to have the potential to create high-quality raisins like those from the natural gas heaters.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/genengsp/3
Included in
Electrical and Electronics Commons, Heat Transfer, Combustion Commons, Other Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons, Other Engineering Commons, Other Mechanical Engineering Commons