Abstract:

We have improved a procedure for calculating the kinetic and energy parameters of the convection fruit drying process in a solar drying plant, based on which it is possible to analyze enhancement in the effectiveness of the technological process of drying and to reduce the cost of energy resources through solar energy. We have examined the kinetics, dynamics and intensity of fruit drying in a solar drying plant, in particular for apples cut in slices with a thickness of 8 mm, treated with a sugar solution, exposed to blanching, and without treatment. We have determined such kinetic characteristics of the process: duration of drying the apples treated with a solution of sugar or exposed to blanching was 27 hours, without treatment ‒ 33 hours. In this case, the intensity of drying apples with a moisture content from 2.89 to 0.24 kg wet/kg of dry matter is 1.57÷0.18 kg/(m2·s). We have established the effect of energy parameters on the technological parameters of a heat carrier and the plant’s efficiency. Specifically, over a single drying cycle from 1.5 m2 of the air collector’s surface, a solar drying plant consumed solar radiation energy in the range from 723 to 800 W/m2. It has been established that this energy was converted into heat energy (2,368.2 kJ), absorbed by a heat carrier (1,984.9 kJ) and used to heat the product (836.3 kJ) and moisture evaporation (756.7 kJ), with a part absorbed by the heat accumulator (356.9 kJ). We have determined the efficiency of a solar drying plant, which ranged from 23 to 60 % depending on a change in the density of solar energy arrival, which ranged in the morning period (from 7:00 to 10:00) from 456 to 965 W/m2 and in the evening period (from 17:00 to 20:00) from 734 to 223 W/m2.The results obtained could be used in the development and improvement of technical means for drying fruit, to enhance the technological and energy efficiency of the process Author Biographies Vitaliy Boyarchuk, Lviv National Agrarian University Volodymyra Velykoho str., 1, Dublyany, Ukraine, 80381 PhD, Professor Department of Energy

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