Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date (Issue Year)
2024
Journal Name
Journal of Food Processing and Preservation
Abstract
This study examines a novel solar-assisted heat pump dryer integrated with a thermal energy storage system using soapstone as storage material. The dryer is investigated through experimental analysis across three operating modes: mode 1 with thermal energy storage during daytime, mode 2 without thermal energy storage during nighttime, and mode 3 without thermal energy storage during daytime. Experiments were carried out to investigate the drying of 500 g of Cavendish banana. Thermal performance, as well as economic, and nutritional content were examined. Three replicates of the experiment yielded consistent results, showing a significant reduction in the moisture content of the initial sample from 74.4% to 9.6% after undergoing distinct drying durations. Mode 1 achieved this reduction in 270 minutes, mode 2 in 390 minutes, and mode 3 in 360 minutes. The average specific moisture extraction rates for modes 1, 2, and 3 were 0.13, 0.11, and 0.12 kg/kWh, respectively. Simultaneously, the drying rate ranged from 0.16 to 0.24% per minute. The drying efficiency varied among the tested modes, with mode 1 achieving the highest efficiency at 23.23%. In terms of coefficient of performance, mode 1, mode 2, and mode 3 exhibited values of 3.69, 2.57, and 2.54, respectively. The economic analysis conducted specifically for mode 1 revealed a payback period of 1.5 years, indicating the time required to recover the initial investment. Additionally, the results indicated that the dried Cavendish banana had significantly higher concentrations of proximate parameters and minerals compared to the fresh Cavendish banana, as evidenced by a p value less than 0.05
Keywords
Thermal Performance, Technoeconomic Analysis, Solar-Assisted Heat Pump Dryer Integrated, Energy Storage Materials, Drying Cavendish Banana (Musa acuminata)
Rsif Scholar Name
Alde Belgard Loemba Tchicaya
Thematic Area
Minerals, Mining and Materials Engineering
Africa Host University (AHU)
Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tanzania
Funding Statement
The authors would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation for the support received from the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF), which is a flagship program under the esteemed Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET). PASET, being an Africa-led initiative affiliated with the World Bank, is dedi- cated to advancing scientific knowledge and technological expertise within the region. The authors also acknowledge support from the RSIF-funded project titled “Solar-assisted heat pump dryer with energy storage for drying biomaterials (SOHEADS)” with Grant reference no. RSIF/RA/001. The authors also express their gratitude to the committee of the 11th International Conference of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS2022) for allowing their research to be published in part in MRS Advances journal.
Recommended Citation
Tchicaya, A. B., Kichonge, B., & Kivevele, T. (2024). Thermal performance and technoeconomic analysis of solar-assisted heat pump dryer integrated with energy storage materials for drying cavendish banana (Musa acuminata). Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 2024 (1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/7496826