Modelling and simulation of pear drying

In the present work a diffusion based model was adopted to represent the drying behaviour of pears in a continuous convective drier, taking into consideration the variation of the properties of the pears along drying. The program developed simulated a significant number of situations resultant from the variation of some of the operating conditions. The temperatures tested were 30, 40 and 50 degrees C, the air velocities were 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m/s, and the relative humidity of the drying air was 40%, 50% and 60%. From the situations analyzed, and considering the specifications required for the final product, it was concluded that the drying should be carried out at 40 degrees C, with a drying air velocity of 1.5 m/s and containing 60% RH. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.