Appropriate community technology - A training manual: Phase V: Solar agricultural dryers: Session 4. Two-hour dryer construction

Appropriate community technology - A training manual

Phase V: Solar agricultural dryers

		Phase V Calendar
		Session 1. Introduction to agricultural dryers
		Session 2. Tour of solar dryers
		Session 3. Solar agricultural dryer design procedures and rules of thumb
		Session 4. Two-hour dryer construction
		Session 5. Review of existing solar dryer plans
		Session 6. Smoke testing solar dryers
		Session 7. Introducing new technologies: solar dryers
		Session 8. Design of solar agricultural dryers
		Session 9. Site selection and preparation
		Session 10. Construction of solar agricultural dryers
		Session 11. Issues and methods in development and diffusion of appropriate technology
		Session 12. Natural cooling
		Session 13. Approaches to health systems
		Session 14. Nutritional gardening
		Session 15. Practical drying tips
		Session 16. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
		Session 17. Dryer assessment and modification
		Session 18. Introduction to cost benefit analysis (cba)
		Session 19. Presentation of solar dryers
		Session 20. Introduction to the final phase of the training program

Session 4. Two-hour dryer construction

Total time:	2 hours
Objectives:	* To construct a simple solar agricultural dryer
	* To discuss group dynamics and problem-solving methods
Materials:	Paper, pencils, cardboard (boxes and sheets), tape, plastic glazing (polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, etc), staple guns, staples, string, wire, small dimension lumber, small nails, hammers, saws knives, black paint, window screen, and other simple solar dryer construction materials

Procedures:

Step 1. (5 minutes)

State the objectives and outline the session activities.

Step 2. (1 hour, 30 minutes)

Form work groups and construct a solar agricultural dryer.

* Circulate among the groups and offer assistance when necessary. Be careful not to offer too much help with the design/re-design and decision-making processes of the groups. Intervene only to correct unsafe tool use. Allow groups to learn from their mistakes.

Step 3. (10 minutes)

Have participants clean up the work area.

Step 4. (15 minutes)

Reconvene the group and conclude the session by reviewing and discussing how the groups worked together to construct their fryers.

Trainer Notes

* Encourage the participants to discuss the group dynamics and problem-solving methods used during this session. Focus this discussion by reviewing the processes of design, construction and re-design.

* Encourage the participants to put food in their solar dryers and begin experimental drying.

* Mention that these dryers will be used in Session 6.