Kinetics and Modelling of Star Fruit (Averrhoa Carambola, L.) Drying in a Tray Dryer

摘要

In this work, drying curves were obtained for the star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) in a tray dryer. From theses curves, drying rates and diffusivity data were also obtained and semi theoretical models were adjusted. The drying curves were obtained using a tray dryer with temperatures of 50, 60, and 70°C and an air flux of 1.5 m.s~(-1). The Page, Henderson & Pabis, and Exponential models were fitted to the experimental data by nonlinear regression. All fitted models presented high determination coefficients (R~2). The Page model showed the best fit. It was observed that effective diffusivity, calculated by Fick’s law, increased with temperature.