The effects of grain texture and phenotypic traits on the thin-layer drying rate in maize(Zea mays L.) inbred lines

To explore the relation of maize grain texture and phenotypic traits with grain thin-layer drying rate,we observed the ultra-structure of maize grain,and tested three traits about the maize grain texture and four phenotypic traits.The vitreous part percentage was different（P〈0.05） among different maize inbred lines.There was a significant relationship between the drying rate with grain texture and phenotypic traits.Main factors that influenced the drying rate were different during different drying stages.New results observed that empirical constants（k and N） in drying equation were different for seed of the 30 inbred lines of maize.The k of simplified diffusion equation and N of page equation were significantly influenced by both grain texture and phenotypic traits.These results could be used as guideline parameters for drying maize seeds having different grain characteristics during different drying stages.

Study on drying rate in contact drying with flexible screen

The moisture contents (MC) of popular veneers were tested in Composition Board Laboratory of Northeast Forestry University by contact drying with flexible screen. The influence factors considered included temperature, initial moisture contents (IMC), and veneer thickness. Veneer-drying laws under different hot press conditions were analyzed. The results showed that the drying rate increased with temperature rising. 160°C was considered to be more efficient than 140°C and 180°C because excessive high temperature has no significant contribution to drying rate. IMC had significant effect on drying rate. The veneer with high IMC had a higher drying rate at above fiber saturation point (FSP) and a lower drying rate at below FSP, compared to the veneer with low IMC. Average drying rate also varied with thickness in power law.

Drying Characteristics of Microwave-assisted Foam Drying of Corn Soaking Water

To improve the industrial utilization of corn soaking water, the yeast protein powder was produced by microwave-assisted foam drying. Firstly, preparation experiments were carded out, which included the foaming characteristic experiments of fermentation broth and that about the effects of carbon and nitrogen ratio on solid content in the fermentation broth. Secondly, the drying characteristics experiment of corn soaking water was studied, which selected the microwave power, material amount and thickness as the influencing factors for the single experiment. The results showed that the final moisture content （d.b.） and drying rate were significantly affected by those factors.

Compact plant type rice has higher lodging and N resistance under machine transplanting

To identify the major factors that contribute to the difference in lodging among different rice varieties under machine transplanting and their responses to nitrogen(N),field experiments were conducted at Danyang County(a representative eco-site of the Lower Yangtze River)in Jiangsu Province,China in 2017 and 2018,22 hybrid indica varieties(HIs),22 inbred japonica varieties(IJs)and two indica japonica hybrid varieties(IJHs)were transplanted by machine with three N rates(N0,N150 and N300,0,150 and 300 kg ha–1,respectively).Lodging-related physical parameters,morphological characteristics and apparent transport rates of dry matter were examined.Significant difference in yield was observed among different types of rice,and followed by IJs<HIs<IJHs.The average lodging index(LI)of hybrid varieties(HIs and IJHs)was higher than that of the inbred varieties(IJs)with higher plant height;moreover,lower apparent export rate of dry matter resulted lower LI in IJHs than in HIs.The HIs had a large difference in the LI,which came from the difference in bending stress(BS)induced by the difference in the apparent export rate of dry matter,varieties with lower leaf angle of upper three leaves possess strong lodging resistance capacity;however,the gap among the IJs was due to the difference in the cross section modulus(Z).The LI in the IJs or IJHs increased slightly with the increased N application,and there was no lodging incidence under the high N level,which was due to the low leaf angle and barely changed under high N;there was a significant interaction between varieties(HIs)and N rates in lodging rate and LI,varieties with lower leaf angle of upper three leaves were resistant to high N.These results suggest that compact plant type rice has higher lodging and N resistance at machine-transplanting method.

Modeling and optimization for prediction of moisture content,drying rates and moisture ratio

There were needs to develop some preservation technique to enhance the shelf life of Paneer because it is highly perishable in nature at ambient conditions.Drying can be one of the methods to increase shelf life of paneer.This study was undertaken to dry 1.5 cm3 paneer at 62,72 and 82℃temperatures and 10,14 and 18 kPa absolute pressures with superheated steam.Moisture content,drying rate and moisture ratio data were generated by conducting the experiments in low pressure superheated steam dryer.These data were used to develop Artificial Neural Network(ANN)models.Optimized ANN models were developed for rapid and more accurate prediction of moisture content with two hidden layers and seven nurons having R20.9991,drying rate with two hidden layers and nine nurons having R20.9846 and moisture ratio with two hidden layers and seven nurons having R20.9991 in drying,based on two hidden layers and one to nine neurons in each hidden layer.Measured values of moisture content,drying rate and moisture ratio were predicted with an R^(2)>0.98.System equation has been developed to predict moisture content,drying rate and moisture ratio at any given conditions.

Effects of Food Additives on Rehydration Properties of Frozen Dumpling Wrappers

With the vacuum freeze-drying technology, frozen dumpling wrappers were prepared, to investigate the effects of six kinds of food additives, including modified starch, compound phosphate, maltodextrin, guar gum, distilled monoglycerides and transglutaminase （TG enzyme）, on the drying rate, rehydration ratio and sense value of the frozen dumpling wrappers. The results showed that, with respective addition of 6% modified starch, O. 1% compound phosphate, 10% maltodextrin, 0.4% guar gum, 0.4% distilled monoglyceride and 0.3% transglutaminase, the drying rate, rehydration ratio and sense value of the frozen dumpling wrappers were the highest.

Drying rates of some fruits and vegetables with passive solar dryers

Two passive solar dryers were designed and constructed with available local materials.The passive solar dryers which were direct and indirect types were tested with pepper(Capsicum annum L.),okro(Abelmoschus esculentus L.)and vegetables(Amaranthus hybridus L.)in order to evaluate the drying rate of these produces.The moisture content of 78.9%(w.b.)for 180 g freshly harvested peppers was reduced to 24.0%(w.b.).The drying rate in the direct passive solar dryer was found to be higher than the indirect passive solar dryer.The initial moisture content of 92%(w.b.)for 1000 g okro was reduced to 20%(w.b.).The drying rate in the direct passive solar dryer was also found to be higher than in the indirect passive solar dryer.The initial moisture content of 90%(w.b.)for 400 g vegetable was reduced to 20%(w.b.).The drying rate with the direct passive solar dryer was found to be higher than that with indirect passive solar dryer.During the course of drying,after each crop was kept inside the drying system,the temperature of the drying was monitored at an-hour interval;the moisture content was also monitored at a three-hour interval until there was no more change in the weight of the crop.The crops dried faster with the direct passive solar dryer than with the indirect passive solar dryer.As a result of the highest temperature attained in the direct passive solar dryer,the rate of moisture removal was the highest in this dryer.

Multiple Phase Change Materials for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Dryer with Double Pass Collector

The fluctuation in drying temperature influences the food products’quality and drying time significantly during the drying process using an indirect solar dryer.One of the effective methods to reduce these variations in the temperature is based on thermal storage materials to control the drying temperature.An experimental investigation is presented in this study to evaluate the performance of an indirect solar dryer with air double pass using multiple phase change materials(PCM)as thermal storage materials.Two PCMs with different melting points are used to store the available heat energy during peak sunshine periods and reduce the drying temperature fluctuations.Drying tests on a food product sample are conducted in three cases,the first was without PCMs using natural convection.The second and third cases are based on forced convection with and without using multiple PCMs under Baghdad city conditions.The results showed that;approximately a steady temperature of hot drying air was obtained during relatively low ambient temperatures when the dryer was incorporated with multiple PCMs.The drying time of the product sample for the natural,forced convection without PCMs and forced with PCMs was 87,72 and 47 h,respectively.The higher performance of the dryer was for the forced convection with PCMs.The reduction percentage in drying time was about 17.2%and 46%for the forced convection without and with PCMs respectively compared with natural convection.The average drying rate for the natural,forced without PCMs and forced convection with PCMs was 0.0093,0.0135 and 0.0172 kg/h,respectively.The enhancement in thermal efficiency of the solar collector and drying chamber with multiple PCMs was 43%and 25.5%,respectively,compared with a typical solar dryer.

Comparison of Drying Rate and Energy Consumption between Vacuum and Ambient Pressure Drying for Chinese Fir

In this work, Chinese fir samples with a size of 400 mm (L) by 50 mm (W) 30 mm (H) weretaken as specimens, and drying rate and energy consumption were compared under the conditions, inwhich the absolute pressure was 0.02 , 0.04 , 0.06 and 0.10 MPa, respectively, and the temperature was80 oC. The results showed that, when the moisture content (MC) of the samples was above fibersaturation point (FSP), the vacuum drying rate was 0.96-1.24 times as high as the ambient pressuredrying rate. However, when it was below FSP, the vacuum drying rate was 1.26-1.32 times as high as theambient pressure drying rate. At the same time, when the MC was above FSP, the energy consumptionof vacuum drying was 81.1%-95.9% of that of ambient pressure drying; when the MC was below FSP,the energy consumption of vacuum drying was 62.40%-69.40% of that of ambient pressure drying.Therefore, the vacuum drying was superior to the ambient pressure drying in terms of drying rate andenergy consumption.

Effect of Initial Moisture Content on Solar Drying Ratefor Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla

Wood drying is one of the most important process links in wood products processing.However, the existing drying methods mainly depend on heat to desiccate wood, which makes wooddrying consume roughly 40% - 70% of the total energy in the entire wood process. Using solar energyfor drying is greatly significant in two aspects of energy conservation and environment protection. Themoisture content (MC) of lumber affects not only the target value of wood drying, but also the heattransfer properties, moisture rate of expansion, etc., affecting dried lumber quality and drying rate.Eucalyptus grandis × E.urophylla lumbers were collected from Guangdong as test materials and dried inthe solar dryer with low temperature schedule and the effect of initial moisture content were primarystudied on drying rate. Experiments showed that solar drying was suitable for timber with high MC. Interms of drying rate and dried lumber quality, solar drying was as good as traditional steam drying withthe same schedule. And the solar dryer had distinct energy-saving effect.

Drying characteristics and mathematical model of ultrasound assisted hot-air drying of carrots

In order to improve the heat and mass transfer process in hot-air drying,power ultrasound was coupled directly to hot-air drying of fresh carrot slices.The effects of ultrasonic power,radiation distance,hot air velocity and temperature on drying characteristics were studied.In addition,the Page equation was used to fit the ultrasound assisted hot-air drying process of the carrot slices.The results showed that the drying rate of carrot slices increased with the increase of ultrasound power and the decrease of radiation distance.Power ultrasound had a greater enhancement on hot-air drying at lower air velocity(0.5 m/s)and temperature(40ºC),especially at the middle and later periods(controlled by internal diffusion).The drying time of carrot slices using ultrasound assisted hot-air drying was shortened by 37.5%compared to that using hot-air drying at the condition with power of 150 W,radiation distance of 15 cm,air velocity of 1.0 m/s and temperature of 40ºC.All test indicators of the model meet the accuracy requirements,which show that the model can better fit the experimental values.

Modelling of microwave assisted hot-air drying and microstructural study of oilseeds

A modelling study was performed to solve the heat and mass transfer problems between grain and the ambient air encountered during drying by microwave assisted hot-air dryer,under low microwave(MW)density of 0.2 W/g.Canola(Brassica napus),soybean(Glycine max)and corn(Zea mays)seeds were chosen due to their inherent high oil content.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was used to study the effect of drying conditions on the structural characteristics of these oilseeds.A mathematical model was adapted to simulate drying of one seed of canola,soybean and corn.The process of water transfer was modelled based on the effect of vapour pressure on the water molecules inside the seed.It was observed that when the difference between the vapour pressure inside the grain and the surrounding air was higher than,the drying rate increased which led to cracks in the grain.Results showed that the drying rate decreased when the temperature of air inside the cavity of the microwave increased for all the oilseeds studied,because of the reduced differential vapour pressure between the grain and the ambient air.On the other hand,the drying rate increased if the temperature of the inlet air was reduced because the difference between the two pressures increased.It was concluded that by controlling the ambient air,the grains could be protected against popping and cracking because of lower vapour pressure differential during MW assisted hot-air drying.

Effect of foaming agent,foam stabilizer and whipping time on drying process of tomato paste under different drying equipment

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of foaming agent(egg white(EW)),foam stabilizer(carboxyl methyl cellulose(CMC))and whipping time on drying rate and quality of tomato(Lycopersicon esculentus)paste dried under air oven,microwave oven and mechanical dryer.A 43 factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design(RCBD)was used to study the effect of four levels each of foaming agent(5%,10%,15%and 20%EW),foam stabilizer(0.15%,0.30%,0.45%and 0.60%CMC)and whipping time(3,5,7 and 9 min)on the drying rate and the quality of foam-mat dried tomato powder in the three drying equipment.Each trial was performed in triplicates making a total number of 576 samples that were individually tested and measured.25 g sample of the paste was dried to a moisture content of 7.60%(wb)for 8 h in mechanical dryer and oven dryer at temperatures of 55◦C and 50◦C,respectively,and 10 min in microwave oven at 540 W.Data obtained from the experiments were statistically analyzed using the analysis of variance(ANOVA)while the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was used to compare the means.Results showed that the drying rate increased with increase in foaming agent,foam stabilizer and whipping with minimum values of 9.21 g/h obtained in mechanical dryer,9.31 g/h in air oven and 8.05 g/h in microwave oven.Increase in foaming agent,foam stabilizer and whipping time did not cause any adverse effect on vitamin C,ash,protein,fat,carbohydrate,crude fiber contents of the samples.Samples reached a stable moisture content of 7.60%(wb)in less than 8 h in mechanical dryer and air and less than 10 min in microwave oven.The results of the study showed that EW,CMC and whipping time influenced the drying rate and quality of foam-mat dried tomato powder.

Performance Study of a Hybrid Heat Pump Dryer based on Numerical Analysis and Experimental Set-up

Seafood,especially sea cucumbers and oysters are an expensive delicacy in several Asian countries.Traditional sun-drying of these products takes 3 to 4 days and fetches a lower market price.Modern industrial drying machines used for seafood drying are unable to dry sea cucumbers and oysters without texture and color degradation as they are delicate,temperature-sensitive and have longer drying time.An economical drying system that does not cause texture or color degradation is the heat pump drying system and is commonly applied for agriculture and fabric drying.In this study,the heat pump technology is applied to develop two hybrid dryer models(bottom discharge and front discharge)to dry shellfish and sea cucumbers in large scale for storage and transportation.Each model is tested in a laboratory-scale with wet sponges as input material for its dehumidification capacity and the power consumed to attain the target dryness.The front discharge model is found to have rapid drying capability and economy.Computational fluid dynamic tools are used to study the hot air flow behavior and flow uniformity inside the drying chamber.The front discharge model showed smooth uniform flow over the trays with fewer losses in the flow velocity.The front discharge model with higher drying rate,lower power consumption and uniform airflow distribution over the trays is chosen for the industrial-scale design.

Dehydration Kinetics of Embryonic Axes from Desiccation-sensitive Seeds:An Assessment of Descriptive Models

The response of desiccation-sensitive plant tissues to dehydration is significantly affected by dehydration conditions, particularly the rate of drying. Consequently it is important to be able to quantify drying rate. The aim of the study was to assess two models that have been proposed to describe drying kinetics, and thus to provide a quantification of non-linear drying rates, of embryonic axes excised from recalcitrant seeds. These models are an exponential drying time course, and a modified inverse relationship, respectively. For the six species investigated here the inverse function was generally found to fit drying data better than the exponential function under both rapid and slow drying conditions, and so is recommended. The rate of drying, under the conditions used here, was determined by axis size and possibly the nature of the axis outer coverings, rather than the water activity difference between the tissue and surrounding air.