"Dörrofen" a Device to Parch Food

In later days fruits and other stuff got parched to create long storable food.

Some generations before my family could have done something like that due to the family name. So my goal was to go back to the roots and create a device to parch everything.

PS. we have an word for that: "Dörrofen"

Initial Plan and Cutting of the Boards

For such a project it is required to draw down all the stuff. This is the only way to order the right amount of boards.

Furthermore this way I force myself to think before.

Heat Bridge for the Alternative Heat Source

Beside the sun, I also wanted to use an alternative heat source. Therefore I've used a steel rod to implement a heat bridge. For what... will be followed later.

Assemble the Boards

I've screwed everything together.

Please notice, that the two boards at the button are mounted the wrong way, I've noticed that at the and and had to do that again. The heat bridge should be faced downwards.

Fan for the Better Airflow

To increase the airflow I've added a fan which will later be controlled by a micro controller. This will be a update

Solar Heater - Pipes

To collect a huge amount of solar energy I've build pipes out of old cans and painted them black.

I've noticed several things while creating the collector.

One: Only three cans can be placed in the PMMA tub

Two: the area is to small for central Europe

Solar Heater - Housing

The pipes got a special housing, which I've found in the basement. It is a PMMA tub for aquariums.

Solar Heater - Assemble

The solar collector got a customized inlet in the box.

Assemble the Solar Collector

... And Pint everything black.

The Fire Bucket

As mentioned before. I want to use several heat sources (actually two). The alternative to the sun is to use a fire. The heat bridge got two steel tubes. Furthermore I've found a stainless steel bucket (It's from a industrial coffee machine ). To allow a slight airflow through the bucket I've used a grinder to add some slots.

RECAP

The final project looks... OK but It has several downsides:

- as mentioned, the area for the solar collector is to small

- The convection current is to low,

- These two points are responsible for a to cold (51°C on the hottest days) slow airflow

Planed Updates:

- Implement the fan and the micro controller

- Increase the collector area