Тhe project for laboratory scale tunnel dryer for convective-conductive drying of food materials

Abstract

Laboratory scale tunnel dryer for convective-conductive drying of food was designed with the ability to regulate the drying parameters by controlling the thermo-mechanical properties of the humid air and the temperature of the materials by convective-conductive methods, as well as precisely adjusting the fraction of recirculated air in the drying process. The dryer is fully automated, with the ability to operate according to temperature or humidity parameters. Automation and control of the process and drying parameters was achieved by frequency regulation of the forced air flow system, proportional-integral-differential (PID) temperature drying regulation and ON / OFF regulation of air humidity (agent), as well as PID regulation of the heating of materials by a conductive mechanism. All regulated sizes are measurable with the ability to connect to an external computer for data collection.