Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date (Issue Year)
2022
Journal Name
Energy Science and Engineering
Abstract
Fruits and vegetables are agricultural products that require preservation toenhance and protect shelf life, encapsulate natural flavour, and retainnutritional content. Globally, agricultural products are preserved by a rangeof means, the most prevalent of which is the heat pump dryer, which producesthe best results even in unfavourable climatic conditions. Heat pump dryerscome in different types and their performance varies depending on the type.This study aims to evaluate recently developed heat pump dryers based on keyperformance indicators, impacts on food colour and nutritional content,techno‐economic, exergoeconomic, and environmental issues associated withthe development of heat pump dryers, which are underrepresented in most ofthe existing heat pump dryers' reviews. This study also discusses mathematicaldrying kinetic models, and regulation or policy aspects related to thedevelopment of heat pump dryers. In the present study, the results onperformance analysis indicate that heat pump dryers examined were effectivein reducing drying time and obtaining high coefficients of performanceranging from 1.94 to 5.338 and specific moisture extraction rate ranging from0.156 to 9.25 kg/kWh, as well as significantly reducing energy consumption byup to 80%. The nutritional composition and colour results show that heatpump dryers maintain the maximum nutrient content while also improvingcolour. The expansion valve has the lowest exergoeconomic factor of all heatpump dryer components, whereas the compressor has the highest cost ofexergy destruction in general, according to the results of exergoeconomicanalysis. Techno‐economic analysis results demonstrated that most developedheat pump dryers have short payback periods ranging from 1.6 to 3.6 years.However, due to a lack of research in this field, the environmentalimplications of heat pump dryers are unknown. As per the findings of thisstudy, future research in this field should focus on the design of simple andlow‐energy heat pump dryers, life cycle, techno‐economic, and exergoeco-nomic assessments
Keywords
biomaterials, economic, efficiency, heat pump dryers, life cycle analysis, nutritional conten
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 PASET Regional Scholarship andInnovation Fund (RSIF)
Recommended Citation
Tchicaya, A. B., Kichonge, B., & Kivevele, T. (2022). Comprehensive assessment of heat pump dryers for drying agricultural products. Energy Science and Engineering https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1326