Thermo-economic comparative of open-greenhouse and sun-patio coffee drying in the Sierra Mariscal Chiapas-México
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: A thermal-economic comparative of open-greenhouse and sun-patio drying in the Sierra Mariscal, Chiapas-México. Thermal analyses involve drying kinetics, thermal efficiency, and drying-specific energy, while economic analyses involve the investment payback period. The initial and final samples moisture content was from 53% to 11-12% (w.b). The open-greenhouse samples were 14 kg/m2 spread in 12 trays (135 kg/batch), while in sun-patio drying were 10 kg/m2 of coffee beds. In sun-patio and open-greenhouse, respectively, the drying time, drying constant, water-effective diffusivity, activation energy, thermal efficiency, drying-specific energy and payback period were (15.58-19.0:18.92-35.0 h), (1.41×10-03-9.55×10-04:1.28×10-03-5.70×10-04), (4.05-8.11×10-10:1.77-5.07×10-09 m2/s), (7.57-20.91: 12.58 kJ/mol), (0.21-0.28:0.22-0.42), (7.95-10.71:5.36-10.23 MJ/kg) and (76.17:75.42 mth). The drying time in the open-greenhouse was 21.5% higher than in the sun-patio, and the drying-specific energy was 32.5% lower. In open-greenhouse drying concerning sun-patio, the payback period correlates more (39%) with solar irradiation, followed by wind velocity, ambient temperature, and relative humidity, as happens with the drying time and drying-specific energy. At a similar payback, the open-greenhouse drying fulfills sanitary regulations concerning sun-patio because the drying area requirement is 14.0 times lower.
Authors: D. Santizo-Díaz, J.J. Flores-Prieto
Language: English
Topic: Food Drying and Modeling
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,620
OpenAlex ID: W4409195539