• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.314-322
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the hot air drying characteristics of squash slices depending on the drying conditions (input air velocity, input air temperature, and sample thickness). Methods: The developed drying system was equipped with a controllable air blower and electric finned heater, drying chamber, and ventilation fan. Squash (summer squash called Korean zucchini) samples were cut into slices of two different thicknesses (5 and 10 mm). These were then dried at two different input air temperatures (60 and $70^{\circ}C$) and air velocities (5 and 7 m/s). Six well-known drying models were tested to describe the experimental drying data. A non-linear regression analysis was applied to determine model constants and statistical indices such as the coefficient of determination ($R^2$), reduced chi-square (${\chi}^2$), and root mean square error (RMSE). In addition, the effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$) was estimated based on the curve of ln(MR) versus drying time. Results: The results clearly showed that drying time decreased with an increase in input air temperature. Slice thickness also affected the drying time. Air velocity had a greater influence on drying time at $70^{\circ}C$ than at $60^{\circ}C$ for both thicknesses. All drying models accurately described the drying curve of squash slices regardless of slice thickness and drying conditions; the Modified Henderson and Pabis model had the best performance with the highest R2 and the lowest RMSE values. The effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$) changes, obtained from Fick's diffusion method, were between $1.67{\times}10^{-10}$ and $7.01{\times}10^{-10}m^2/s$. The moisture diffusivity was increased with an increase in input air temperature, velocity, and thickness. Conclusions: The drying time of squash slices varied depending on input temperature, velocity, and thickness of slices. The further study is necessary to figure out optimal drying condition for squash slices with retaining its original quality.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 1980

Natural-air drying systems have been extensively used for cereal grains, and many researches on the systems have been conducted in foreign countries. However, little research on drying rough rice with natural air has been done. Especially . little research on natural air drying of rough rice based on weather data has been done in Korean. The objective of this study was to present fundamental data for estimating optimum requirements and basic information available for natural air drying of rough rice based on the weather data . The weather data analyzed in this study were the 10-year (1969 to 1978) record of air temperatures, wet-bulb temperatures and relative humidities, which were three-hourly observations in Taegu area. The results of this study are summarized as follows ; 1 From the results of weather data analysis the average air temperature was about $14.8^\circ$and the average relative humidty 67.5% . Average equilibrium moisture content appeared to be 13.8 percent on wet basis, which showed great potential for natural air drying in Taegue area in October. 2. Possible fan operation time based on the equilibrium moisture content of 15% on wet basis was about 14 hours a day during October in Taegu area. Probabilities of possible drying days based on minimum time available for drying in a day were analyzed. 3. Minimum air flow requirements based on the worst year were determined for different fan operation methods and initial moisture contents.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 2000

This study was performed to develop a prototype continuous flow ginseng dryer with which better product quality and lower drying energy consumption could be achieved compared with conventional ginseng dryers. A dryer having both far infrared ray (IR) and heated-air as the drying energy sources was designed and fabricated . Dryer performance was studied by examining energy efficiencies and dryer performance evaluation indices (DPEI) during the drying tests of medium-sized four year ginseng roots with IR radiating plate temperature and drying air temperature in the range of 80-12$0^{\circ}C$ and 22-5$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The DPEI of IR /heated -air combined drying was 1/3 of that of the conventional heated-air drying when ginseng were dried to the same final moisture ratio. When ginsengs were dried for 12 hours in the prototype IR/heated-air combination dryer, a linear relationship was found to exist between final moisture ratio and ginseng temperature. As the drying progressed, drying air temperature inside the dryer was nearly constant but ginseng temperature was drastically increased during the first two hours and gradually increased thereafter until the end of drying. With the prototype Ir/heated-air combination dryer, the drying rate changed little but the energy efficiency increased proportionally when the amount of ginseng to be dried increased. Drying capacity, energy efficiency, and DPEI of the prototype IR/heated-air combination ginseng dryer were estimated to 1.500 roots, 65% and 3.800kJ/kg-water , respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.1573-1579
• /
• 2004

This study was conducted to develop intermediate material for new processed food from sweet pumpkin. Osmotic dehydration was carried out as pretreatment before drying. After the sweet pumpkins were pretreated under optimized osmotic dehydration conditions, they were dried by three drying methods (hot air drying, vacuum drying and cold air drying). The moisture contents of dried sweet pumpkin products by osmosis treatment (sucrose) and hot air drying, vacuum drying, and cold air drying were 14.48, 14.09 and 13.87%, respectively. Cold air drying preserved more vitamin C content and showed lower color difference than hot air drying and vacuum drying. As a result of microscopic analysis, cold air dried sweet pumpkin was observed regular tissue, while hot air and vacuum dried sweet pumpkins were observed a cell collapse following the loss of water.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.180-187
• /
• 2012

Panicum maximum, Panicum repens, Imperata cylindrica, Pennisetum polystachion and Cyperus rotundus are five rhizomatous grass weeds that exist and are problematic in the coconut lands of Sri Lanka. Rhizomatous weeds are the most difficult to control because of their vegetative reproduction by underground propagules. Therefore chemical and biological techniques have failed to control these weeds to acceptable levels. Experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of depth of burial, duration of sun drying or duration of air drying rhizomes of the selected weed species on germination. Depth of burial reduced germination of all species. Burying rhizomes at depths less than 10 cm inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Burying depths below 30~40 cm inhibited germination of all species. Sun drying or air drying rhizomes for durations less than 5 days inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Germinations of all species were inhibited by sun drying rhizomes for 15 days or air drying rhizomes for 20 days. Sun drying of rhizomes of all species for five days reduced the moisture content to a greater extent than air drying. The results indicated that burying rhizomes at the depthsbelow 30~40 cm, sun drying rhizomes for durations beyond 15 days or air drying rhizomes for durations beyond 20 days would be effective in controlling germination of these species. The investigations of the experiments also suggest that keeping rhizomes on the soil surface without burying, sun drying rhizomes or air drying rhizomes for durations of 5~15 days would produce weak plants.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 1995

To compare the quality of ultrastructural preservation of Scanning Electron Microscopic specimens dried with different methods; pure air-drying, air-drying with using Tetramethylsilane(TMS), four kind of air-drying using Hexamethyldisilazane(HMDS) and critical point drying(CPD), we conducted scanning electron microscopic observation on liver, skeletal muscle and intestinal tissues from laboratory rat treated with each method. In pure air drying group, severe distortion of tissue surface was observed, and in HMDS treated group, only liver tissue showed slight distortion. But in TMS treated group, each tissue showed a good presentation comparable to CPD group. The results suggest that the method of air-drying using TMS may be the former is less expensive and simple be and also time-saving.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.256-260
• /
• 2001

This study was initially performed to investigate current red-pepper drying methods commonly being adopted on red-pepper cultivation farm area. Based on the informations obtained from the field survey, an experiment of red-pepper drying was carried out to verify the actual drying potential of plastic covered solar house similar to the conventional pipe frame greenhouses covered with one or two layer of plastic film. Some results obtained from field survey and drying experiment for red-pepper are summarized as follows; 1. Various patterns of red-pepper drying process were found; 1) complete natural drying with red-pepper exposed in outdoor air, 2) hot air drying by dry chamber only, 3) combination drying by hot air dryer together with plastic covered passive solar house, 4) drying with plastic covered solar house unit. 2. The average air temperatures of outdoor and solar house during drying experiment period were $26.9-30.8\;and\;28.6-33.8^{\circ}C$, respectively, and the maximum air temperatures of those two were $34.2-36.4\;and\;39.8\;-52.3^{\circ}C$, respectively. Horizontal solar intensity during experiment period was $18.49-23.96\;MJ/m^{2}$, and relative humidity of outdoor and experimental solar house were 56 - 66% and 64 - 70%, respectively. 3. The weight of red-pepper during drying experiment period was decreased almost linearly from initial moisture content of 85% to final moisture content of 14%.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.100-113
• /
• 1978

Drying grain with conventional artificial drying methods requires great quantities of petroleum fuels. Depletion of fossil fuel increases the need of the utilization of solar energy as an alternative to petroluem fuels for drying grain , an energy intensive agricultural operation. Many techniques for the utilization of solar energy in grain drying have been developed, however, there are many problems in adopting solar energy as an energy sources for drying grain. Futhermore, very little research has been done on solar grain drying in Korea. This study was conducted to evaluate the availability of solar energy for drying of rough rice in Chuncheon, Suweon, and Jinju areas based on 50year meteorological data, and to analyze experimentally the performance of a solar air collector for dying grain, and to find the effects of solar heated air compared to unheated air on the rate of drying and energy consumption required for drying of rough rice. The results of this study was may be summarized as follows ; 1. Monthly average daily total radiation on a horizontal surface in October was 260.6 ly/day for Chuncheon, 240.3 ly/day for Suweon , and 253.4 ly/day for Jinju area, respectively. 2. the ratio of monthly average daily diffuse radiation to daily total radiation on a horizontal surface was approximately 0.41 for Chuncheon, 0.45 for Suweon, and 0.44 for Jinju area, respectively. 3. Although the statistical distribution curves of daily total radiation for the three locations were not identical , the differences among them were not large and may be neglected for many practical purposes. 4. I was estimated that the optimum tilting angle of the collector in October was approximately 46 degrees for Chuncheon and Suweon and 45 degrees for Jinju. 5. The ratio of the total radiation on a optimum tilting plane to that on a horizontal plane was estimated to be 1.36 for Chuncheon, 1.31 for Suweon, and 1.27 for Jinju , respectively. 6. The collection efficiency of the solar air collector ranged from 47. 8 to 51. 5 percent at the air flow rates of 251. 1-372.96 $m^3$/hr. High efficiency remained nearly , constant during the best sunshine hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and decreased during other hours. More energy was collected as the air flow rate incresed. 7. The average temperature rise in the drying air from the solar collector for the test period varied from $6.5^\circC$ to $21.8^\circC$ above the ambient air temperature. 8. Solar-dried rough rice averaged 13.7 percent moisture (w.b.) after 130 hours of drying with the air flow rate of 1. 64 ccm/$m^3$, and rough rice dried with natural air averaged 15.1 percent moisture (w.b.) after 325 hours of drying with the same air flow rate. 9. Energy saving of 2.4 kwh per $m^3$ percentage point of moisture removed was obtained from solar heated air drYing. The solar bin used 53.3 percent less energy per percentage point of moisture removed than the natural air bin.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.112-123
• /
• 1994

At present, no appropriate drying conditions can be found for the heated-air drying of mushroom in Korea. Usually, mushroom is being dried at the temperature range of 40 to $50^{\circ}C$ until the moisture content reaches 10~13% (wb). However, drying characteristics of the mushroom should be investigated for quality improvement and efficient drying operation of the mushroom. The results of this study may be summarized as follows ; 1. The effect of air temperature on the rate of drying was greater than that of relative humidity for drying of mushroom, and the rate of drying was increased with increase in the air temperature. 2. Drying rate for Shiitake mushroom showed falling-rate period of drying without constant-rate period of drying. Drying rate for Oyster mushroom showed a short constant-rate period at the initial stage of drying process, and followed by falling-rate period of drying. 3. Exponential and App.-Diffusion models were found to describe well the drying process of Shiitake mushroom. Exponential and Thompson models for Oyster mushroom in which Thompson model was the most suitable for Oyster mushroom. 4. The equilibrium moisture content of the mushroom decreased with decrease in the air temperature and increase in the relative humidity. In room condition($20^{\circ}C$, 54% RH), the calculated values of the equilibrium moisture content showed 11.17% for Shiitake mushroom and 13.19% for Oyster mushroom, respectively.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.229-244
• /
• 1998

This study was performed to determine proper fan and heater management schemes for natural air drying of rough rice in round steel bin with stirring device under Korean weather conditions. A computer simulation model was developed to predict moisture content changes, energy requirements, and drymatter losses during drying of rough rice by natural air. Drying test was conducted to validate the simulation model using round steel bin of holding capacity of 300ton at Rice Processing Complex in Jincheon. The bin was filled with rough rice every day and mixing by stirring device. Moisture contents, ambient air temperatures, relative humidities, static pressures in plenum chamber in the bin, airflow rates, and electrical and fuel energy were measured. Relative errors of moisture content changes predicted by the simulation model were below 5ft, and relative errors of final moisture content, final grain weight, required energy ranged from 0.9% to 6%. These not levels indicated that the simulation model can satisfactorily predict the performance factors of natural air drying system such as drying rates and energr consumptions comparing error level of 10% to 15% in other drying simulation models generally used in dryer desists. Twelve different fan and heater management schemes were evaluated using the computer simulation model based on three hourly weather data from Suweon for the period of 1952-1994. The best management schemes were selected comparing the drymatter losses, required drying times, required energy consumptions. Operating fan without heating only when ambient relative humidity was below 85% or 90% appeared to be the most effective method of In operation in favorable drying weather. Under adverse drying climates or to reduce required drying time, operating fan continuously, and heating air with $1.5^{\circ}C$ temperature rise only when ambient relative humidity was over 85% appeared to be the most suitable method.