Design, Production and Testing of a Dryer Coupled with a Refrigeration Machine for Fruit and Vegetable Preservation

Abstract

The aim of this project is to design and build a refrigerated dryer for preserving fruit and vegetables. The prototype comprises a refrigeration chamber, a drying chamber and a condensing unit housing. SOLIDWORKS and EES software were used for the design and power calculation of the refrigeration system units, respectively. The dryer is supplied with hot air by the condensing unit. The experimental part will involve characterizing the air in the drying and refrigeration chambers, and the product in the drying chamber. Sizing the refrigeration chamber based on a heat balance gave us a condenser power of 489.24 W and a drying temperature of 48°C. The coefficient of performance being at a temperature of 5°C.