Abstract

This is an exploratory research aimed at examining the use of hot spring as a renewable energy source to replace conventional electrical energy for suitable agricultural process in the Los Baňos area, Laguna, Philippines. Here, a potential site was selected by analyzing data of the temperature, relative humidity and hot spring temperature. Preliminary results revealed that average air temperature, relative humidity and hot spring temperature were 26.82°C, 87.48% and 41.49°C respectively. The standard deviation of the hot spring temperature was 0.021°C and analysis revealed that the ambient condition had no effect on the temperature of the hot spring. A prototype water hyacinth dryer was designed from locally available materials using the hot spring as a heat source. The dryer was tested at two settings (closed lid and partially opened lid). Results revealed the average temperature above and below the drying mesh and rate of moisture reduction with closed lid and partially opened lid were 33.30°C, 36.54°C and 16.8 g per hour; 32.47 and 30.56°C and 4.33 g per hour respectively. However, the color of the dried product is unacceptable. The hot spring incubator for balut revealed that average, maximum and minimum temperature was 39.995, 40.5 and 39.38ËšC, respectively at opened setting of 45° waste valve. However, the hot spring incubator can be developed for incubating duck eggs which will reduce the operational cost of balut producers in Los Baňos, Laguna, Philippines.

Key words: Hot spring, water hyacinth, drying, incubating, duck eggs.