Vol. 5, Issue 4 (2017)
Mathematical modelling of mixed mode natural convection solar drying of tomato slices
Author(s): Divyasree Arepally, Sudharshan Reddy Ravula and Venkat Reddy Kamidi
Abstract: The objective of the present investigation was to study the drying kinetics of tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum) slices at different drying loads in a fabricated mixed mode natural convection solar dryer. Tomato slices were dried to the safe level moisture content in a period of 20 h, 23 h and 30 h with the drying loads of 2 kg/m2, 4 kg/m2 and 6 kg/m2, respectively. The solar dryer was constructed at a low cost with locally obtainable materials. Nine different thin layer mathematical models were chosen to fit to the experimental data. The models were compared using the correlation coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RSME) and the reduced chi-square (χ2). Among all these models, the approximation of Two-term was shown a better fit to the experimental drying data compared to other model for 2 kg/m2 and 4 kg/m2 whereas the Logarithmic model was shown a better fit for a 6 kg/m2 of drying load. The dryer efficiency increased from 17.33% to 35% with increased in drying loads from 2 kg/m2 to 6 kg/m2.
Pages: 1274-1279 | 1081 Views 122 Downloads
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How to cite this article:
Divyasree Arepally, Sudharshan Reddy Ravula, Venkat Reddy Kamidi. Mathematical modelling of mixed mode natural convection solar drying of tomato slices. Int J Chem Stud 2017;5(4):1274-1279.
