Efficient Tomato Drying Using Refractance Window-UV Equipped With a Heat Pump: Performance Optimization and Kinetic Modeling

This study investigates the efficiency of a combined Refractance Window-Ultraviolet drying system with a heat pump for tomato processing. Experiments were conducted at three different temperatures: ۶۰, ۷۰, and ۸۰°C, with and without the heat pump. The objective of this research was to evaluate drying time, determine relative humidity, and develop a model under varying conditions. The results showed that at ۸۰°C, with the use of the heat pump, drying time was reduced to ۹۱ minutes, and the final moisture content ratio reached ۰.۱۳. The Midilli model was used to analyze moisture reduction, which described the moisture changes well, with a coefficient of determination (R²) higher than ۰.۹۹. The highest R² was observed at ۷۰°C without the pump (R² = ۰.۹۹۸۳۴), and the lowest was at ۸۰°C without the pump (R² = ۰.۹۸۸۳۲). These results indicate that the use of a heat pump can optimize the drying process and reduce time. This study demonstrates that the combined Refractance Window-Ultraviolet system with a heat pump can be an efficient method for processing heat-sensitive products such as tomatoes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Modelling ، Moisture reduction ، drying ، Agricultural products