Enhancement of the Performance and Quality of Tilapia Fish Drying Products by Integrating Rotating Rack, Air recirculation, and Heat Recovery Systems in the Greenhouse Solar Drying System
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A novel rotary rack-type greenhouse solar dryer (RRT-GHSD) was developed to solve the problems found in a static rack-type greenhouse solar dryer for drying fish. The experiments were carried out in four drying modes: mode 1 (MD1), mode 2 (MD2), mode 3 (MD3), and mode 4 (MD4); the performances of these modes were compared to each other. In MD1 and MD2, the RRT-GHSD was operated with exhaust air recycling at 100% and 50%, respectively, and heat recovery was utilized. MD3 and MD4 involved operating the RRT-GHSD with and without heat recovery, respectively, and without exhaust air recycling. The specific moisture evaporation rate (SMER) (0.223 kg/kWh) and efficiency of thermal dryer (39.16%) were found highest for MD1 and lowest for MD4. The specific consumption of energy (SEC) was found lowest (6.905 kW h/kg) for MD1 and highest for MD4. MD1 could save heat energy around 70.2%. The drying rate was found highest (4.79 kg/h) for MD1 and lowest for MD3. Furthermore, MD1 exhibited the highest exergy efficiency at 63.11%, surpassing MD2’s 54.96%. Notably, RRT-GHSD not only ensures uniform air distribution but also maintains high drying product quality. The experimental moisture ratio (MR) data displayed an excellent relationship with the Page model.
Institution: Institut Teknologi Padang
Language: English
Topic: Food Drying and Modeling
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7140054627