Evaluation of Kiwi drying energy indicators in semi-industrial fixed bed dryer equipped with phase change materials

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of temperature (55, 65, and 75 ℃) and phase change materials (PCM) on four measurable factors: total energy consumption, specific energy consumption (SEC), drying time, and consistency of drying. Six treatments were achieved by combining independent variables. The pre-treatment for drying involved using an infrared power of 250 W for 10 minutes, followed by a microwave power of 400 W for 4 minutes. Enzyme removal was done in a layered fixed bed dryer. The research utilized a randomized complete block design with four replications for the variables of total energy consumption, specific energy consumption, and drying time. The variable of uniformity was repeated six times as part of the factorial experiment. The data analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 program. Copeland's method integration approach was utilized to determine the optimal treatment. According to the findings, the treatments had an insignificant impact on total energy consumption. The most energy-efficient treatment was observed to be at 75°C without PCM, with a recorded value of 1.02 kWh/kg. The best treatment in terms of total energy consumption, specific energy consumption, and drying time was found to be at a temperature of 75℃ without the use of PCM.