Prediction of Moisture Ratios (MRs) During Fluidized Bed Drying of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Cubes by Using Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Validation

Experimental studies were carried on drying of ginger in a batch fluidized bed dryer at a constant drying air velocity (0.8 m/s) and three drying air temperatures of 45, 50, and 60 degrees C. Fresh ginger cubes (10 mm x 10 mm x 10 mm) having initial moisture content of 82.7% (wet basis) were dried for 7 hours. The drying characteristics were predicted by five standard mathematical models and compared with the experimental results using statistical parameters like correlation coefficient (R-2), reduced chi-square (chi(2)), root mean square error, standard error of estimate, and mean bias error to determine the best model for the experimental validation. It was found that drying of ginger was best predicted by Henderson and Pabis model with R-2 value of 0.973.