Optimization of energy consumption of a solar-electric dryer during hot air drying of tomato slices

Abstract

High-energy demand of convective crop dryers has prompted study on optimization of dryer energy consumption for optimal and cost effective drying operation. This paper presents response surface optimization of energy consumption of a solar-electric dryer during hot air drying of tomato slices. Drying experiments were conducted with 1kg batch of tomato samples using a 33Central Composite Design (CCD) of Design Expert 7.0 Statistical Package. Three levels of air velocity (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0ms–1), slice thickness (10, 15 and 20mm) and air temperature (50, 60 and 70oC) were used to investigate their effects on energy consumption. A quadratic model was obtained with a high coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9825. The model was validated using the statistical analysis of the experimental parameters and normal probability plot of the energy consumption residuals. Results obtained indicate that the process parameters had significant quadratic effects (p < 0.05) on the energy consumption. The energy consumption varied between 5.42kWh and 99.78kWh; whereas the specific energy consumption varied between 5.53kWhkg–1and 150.61kWhkg–1. The desirability index method was applied in predicting the ideal energy consumption and drying conditions for tomato slices in a solar-electric dryer. At optimum drying conditions of 1.94ms–1air velocity, 10.36mm slice thickness and 68.4oC drying air temperature, the corresponding energy consumption was 5.68kWh for maximum desirability index of 0.989. Thermal utilization efficiency (TUE) of the sliced tomato samples ranged between 15 ≤ TUE ≤ 58%. The maximum TUE value was obtained at 70oC air temperature, 1.0ms–1air velocity and 10mm slice thickness treatment combination, whereas the minimum TUE was obtained at 50oC air temperature, 2.0ms–1air velocity and 20mm slice thickness. Recommendation and prospect for further improvement of the dryer system were stated.

Keywords

• Energy consumption
• convective dryer
• optimization
• response surface
• thermal utilization
• tomato.