Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Batch uniformity and energy efficiency improvements on a cabinet dryer suitable for smallholder farmers

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Food Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Drying can add value, facilitate transport and extend the storage life of agro-products; therefore, in developing countries with poorly established cool-chains, drying is particularly effective. Furthermore, drying within small-scale village-based enterprises contributes to rural development. However, most equipment suitable to such operations yields a product of non-uniform quality and shows low levels of energy efficiency. The aim of this research was to improve the batch uniformity and the energy efficiency of a cabinet dryer suitable for smallholder farmers. Experiments were carried out with the cooperation of a dryer manufacturer and a group of users. On each trial 144.5 kg of peeled and deseeded litchis were placed at the dryer’s 17 trays, that were stacked atop each other. Moisture content (wet basis) was reduced from 87 to 23 % in about 15.5 h. It was found that a low-cost modification to the dryer chamber’s air inlet was able to improve heat distribution and increase the uniformity of the fruit’s moisture content. In the original design, at the end of the drying process, moisture content of the fruits on the top tray was 38 % while at the bottom tray was 12 %. The modification to the dryer reduced this disparity and the final moisture content of the fruits placed at the top tray was 25 % while at the bottom tray was 21 %. In addition, the modification reduced the dryer’s air mass flow from 0.3 to 0.1 kg s−1 without jeopardizing drying forces, consequently the dryer energy efficiency increased from 33 to 42 %.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A :

Area

E st :

Isosteric heat of sorption

LPG:

Liquefied petroleum gas

m :

Mass

\( \overset{\cdot }{m} \) :

Mass flow

\( {\overset{\cdot }{n}}_{\mathrm{w}} \) :

Drying rate

Ø :

Undefined variable

P :

Pressure

Q :

Heat

\( \overset{\cdot }{Q} \) :

Power

T :

Temperature

v :

Air velocity

\( \overset{\cdot }{w} \) :

Evaporation rate

X :

Moisture content

Y :

Absolute humidity

γ :

Uniformity index

η :

Energy efficiency

λ :

Latent heat of vaporisation

φ :

Relative humidity

air:

Drying air

dm:

Dry matter

duct:

Dryer’s air duct

in:

Input

out:

Outlet

tray:

Dryer’s tray

w:

Water

References

  • Anupunt P, Sukhvibul N (2005) Lychee and longan production in Thailand. Acta Horticult (ISHS) 665:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Araya-Farias M, Ratti C (2008) Dehydration of foods. In: Ratti C (ed) Advances in food dehydration. Contemporary food engineering. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 1–36

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • ASABE (2008) ASAE S358.2 DEC1988 (R2008) Moisture measurements—forages. In: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ed) ASABE standards 2008: standards engineering practices data. ASABE, St. Joseph, pp 670–672

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker CGJ, McKenzie KA (2005) Energy consumption of industrial spray dryers. Dry Technol 23(1–2 SPEC. ISS):365–386

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bena B, Fuller RJ (2002) Natural convection solar dryer with biomass back-up heater. Sol Energy 72(1):75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrín ME, Crapiste GH (2008) Convective drying of foods. In: Ratti C (ed) Advances in food dehydration. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 123–151

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty I, Chaurasiya AK, Saha J (2010) Litchi delicacies—Few value added items par excellence. Acta Horticult (ISHS) 863:637–644

    Google Scholar 

  • Chua KJ, Chou SK (2003) Low-cost drying methods for developing countries. Trends Food Sci Technol 14(12):519–528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chua KJ, Mujumdar AS, Chou SK, Hawlader MNA, Ho JC (2000) Convective drying of banana, guava and potato pieces: effect of cyclical variations of air temperature on drying kinetics and color change. Dry Technol 18(4–5):907–936

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crapiste GH, Rotstein E (1997) Design and performance evaluation of dryers. In: Valentas KJ, Rotstein E, Singh RP (eds) Handbook of food engineering practice. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 121–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronje RB (2008) Effect of fruit development, maturity and harvesting of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) on postharvest fruit quality. Stewart Postharvest Rev 4(3):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das S, Das T, Srinivasa Rao P, Jain RK (2001) Development of an air recirculating tray dryer for high moisture biological materials. J Food Eng 50(4):223–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delang CO (2002) Deforestation in northern Thailand: the result of Hmong farming practices or Thai development strategies? Soc Nat Resour 15(6):483–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll R (2008) Food dehydration. In: Smith JS, Hui YH (eds) Food processing: principles and applications. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, pp 31–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabowski S, Marcotte M, Ramaswamy H (2003) Drying of fruits, vegetables, and spices. In: Chakraverty A, Mujumdar AS, Raghavan GSV, Ramaswamy HS (eds) Handbook of postharvest technology: cereals, fruits, vegetables, tea, and spices. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 653–695

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Holdsworth SD (1971) Dehydration of food products: a review. Int J Food Sci Technol 6(4):331–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang X, Subhadrabandhu S, Mitra S, Ben-Aire R, Stern R (2005) Origin, history, production and processing. In: Menzel C, Maite G (eds) Litchi and longan: botany, production and uses. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp 1–24

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Janjai S, Lamlert N, Tohsing K, Mahayothee B, Bala BK, Müller J (2010) Measurement and modeling of moisture sorption isotherm of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Int J Food Prop 13(2):251–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaraman K, Gupta DD (2007) Drying of fruits and vegetables. In: Mujundar AS (ed) Handbook of industrial drying, 3rd edn. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 606–633

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp IC (2012) Modern drying technology: energy savings. In: Tsotsas E, Mujumdar AS (eds) Volume 4: energy savings, vol 4, Modern drying technology. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, pp 1–45

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kudra T (2009) Energy aspect in food dehydration. In: Ratti C (ed) Advances in food dehydration. Contemporary food engineering. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 423–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn G (1962) Dehydration studies of lychee fruit. Fla Agric Exp Station J Ser 1581:273–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinov M, Öztekin S, Mülller J (2007) Drying. In: Öztekin S, Martinov M (eds) Medicinal and aromatic crops: harvesting, drying, and processing. Haworth Food & Agricultural Products Press, Binghamton, pp 85–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Menzel CM (1984) The pattern and control of reproductive development in lychee: a review. Sci Hortic 22(4):333–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitra SK, Pathak PK (2010) Litchi production in the Asia-Pacific region. Acta Horticult (ISHS) 863:29–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran MJ (1999) Engineering thermodynamics: combustion. In: Kreith F (ed) CRC handbook of thermal engineering, Handbook series for mechanical engineering. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 57–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller J, Mühlbauer W (2011) Solar drying. In: Tsotsas E, Mujumdar AS (eds) Modern drying technology, vol volume 4: energy savings, vol 4, Modern drying technology. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, pp 199–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagle M, González-Azcárraga JC, Phupaichitkun S, Mahayothee B, Haewsungcharern M, Janjai S, Leis H, Müller J (2008) Effects of operating practices on performance of a fixed-bed convection dryer and quality of dried longan. Int J Food Sci Technol 43(11):1979–1987

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagle M, González Azcárraga JC, Mahayothee B, Haewsungcharern M, Janjai S, Müller J (2010) Improved quality and energy performance of a fixed-bed longan dryer by thermodynamic modifications. J Food Eng 99(3):392–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakasone HY, Paull RE (1998) Tropical fruits. In: Crop production science in horticulture, vol 7. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp 173–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Orsat V, Vijaya Raghavan GS, Sosle V (2008) Adapting drying technologies for agri-food market development in India. Dry Technol 26(11):1355–1361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patil RT, Shukla BD (1988) Natural convection cabinet tray dryer using agricultural waste fuel. Dry Technol 6(2):195–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picard A, Davis RS, Gläser M, Fujii K (2008) Revised formula for the density of moist air (CIPM-2007). Metrologia 45(2):149–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Precoppe M, Nagle M, Janjai S, Mahayothee B, Müller J (2011) Analysis of dryer performance for the improvement of small-scale litchi processing. Int J Food Sci Technol 46(3):561–569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raoult-Wack A, Bricas N (2002) Sustainability of food sector development in tropical areas. In: Welti-Chanes J, Barbosa-Cánovas GV, Aguilera JM (eds) Engineering and food for the 21st century. Food preservation technology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 40–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratti C, Mujumdar AS (2004) Drying of fruits. In: Barrett DM, Somogyi LP, Ramaswamy HS (eds) Processing fruits. Science and technology, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 125–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizvi SSH (2005) Thermodynamic properties of foods in dehydration. In: Rao MA, Rizvi SSH, Datta AK (eds) Engineering properties of foods. Food science and technology, 3rd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 39–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreinemachers P, Potchanasin C, Berger T, Roygrong S (2010) Agent-based modeling for ex ante assessment of tree crop innovations: litchis in northern Thailand. Agric Econ 41(6):519–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidle RC, Ziegler AD, Negishi JN, Nik AR, Siew R, Turkelboom F (2006) Erosion processes in steep terrain—truths, myths, and uncertainties related to forest management in southeast Asia. For Ecol Manag 224(1–2):199–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh KK (1994) Development of a small capacity dryer for vegetables. J Food Eng 21(1):19–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Small E (2011) Lychee, longan, and rambutan. In: Top 100 exotic food plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 361–372

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sokhansanj S, Jayas DS (2007) Drying of foodstuffs. In: Mujundar AS (ed) Handbook of industrial drying, 3rd edn. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 522–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Sruamsiri P, Neidhart S (2007) Sustainable fruit production and processing systems: introduction. In: Heidhues F, Herrmann L, Neef A et al (eds) Sustainable land Use in mountainous regions of Southeast Asia. Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Berlin, pp 83–91

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Subhadrabandhu S (1992) Status of the tropical fruit industry in Thailand. Acta Horticult (ISHS) 292:13–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Subhadrabandhu S, Stern RA (2005) Taxonomy, botany and plant development. In: Menzel CM, Waite GK (eds) Litchi and longan: botany, production and uses. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp 25–34

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Subhadrabandhu S, Yapwattanaphun C (2001) Lychee and longan production in Thailand. Acta Horticult (ISHS) 558:49–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Tindall HD (1994) Sapindaceous fruits: botany and horticulture. In: Janick J (ed) Horticultural reviews, vol 16. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New York, pp 143–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Tippayawong N, Tantakitti C, Thavornun S (2008) Energy efficiency improvements in longan drying practice. Energy 33(7):1137–1143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tippayawong N, Tantakitti C, Thavornun S, Peerawanitkul V (2009) Energy conservation in drying of peeled longan by forced convection and hot air recirculation. Biosyst Eng 104(2):199–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WMO (2008) Guide to meteorological instruments and methods of observation, vol 8. WMO-No. 8, 7th edn. World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao C (2009) Drying and dried food quality. In: Ortega-Rivas E (ed) Processing effects on safety and quality of foods. Contemporary food engineering. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 323–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao H, Li C, Guan Z (1999) Experimental research on drying characteristics of litchi. Dry Technol 17(9):1915–1925

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted as part of an international program named “Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in the Mountainous Regions of Southeast Asia” (SFB 564). It was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and co-funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). We should express gratitude to the Hmong Mae Sa Valley Cooperative, and to Likhitchewan Co., Ltd, for taking part in this research study, and would also like to thank the Faculty of Agriculture at Chiang Mai University for hosting the SFB 564 office and supporting the project’s laboratory work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Universität Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    Marcelo Precoppe & Joachim Müller

  2. Department of Physics, Silpakorn University, 73000, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

    Serm Janjai

  3. Department of Food Technology, Silpakorn University, 73000, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

    Busarakorn Mahayothee

Authors
  1. Marcelo Precoppe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Serm Janjai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Busarakorn Mahayothee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joachim Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcelo Precoppe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Precoppe, M., Janjai, S., Mahayothee, B. et al. Batch uniformity and energy efficiency improvements on a cabinet dryer suitable for smallholder farmers. J Food Sci Technol 52, 4819–4829 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-014-1544-y

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-014-1544-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation