Analysis of the heat and mass transfer mechanisms during drying of chive (Allium schoenoprasium l.) in a hybrid photovoltaic solar dryer

• Grant number: 18/23766-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): August 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Nakamura Alves Vieira
• Grantee: Rodrigo Santana Aguiar
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Solar drying is a unit operation whose technology is quite simple, whose cost is quite low, and which uses an abundant and renewable energy source that cannot be monopolized. Due to the fact that simultaneous heat and mass transfer mechanisms are involved, the drying process might occur with higher rates by using forced convection. In solar dryers, the pressure drop across the bed of drying material is low, so that electrical energy to be provided to the fans can be obtained by alternative sources, such as solar radiation itself, that is, by using photovoltaic energy. Even though forced convection might improve drying rates (by increasing heat transfer rates), it is possible that internal mass transfer mechanisms are the controlling steps of the whole drying mechanism. Due to the wide variety of foodstuff which might be processed in a solar dryer, one should analyze the influence of these process variables individually. In this context, the main objective of this work is the analysis of heat and mass transfer mechanisms that occur during drying in a hybrid photovoltaic solar dryer. The drying of chive (Allium schoenoprasium L.) will be carried out in this dryer, in the presence or absence of forced convection. It is expected that data will allow the analysis of which mechanisms are the controllers of the drying process. Additionally, it is expected that, based on such data, the proposal of a mathematical model that relates the process variables is possible.