Microwave assisted fluidized bed drying of celery

Abstract

[EN] The drying kinetics of celery in a microwave assisted fluidized bed dryer was studied at different drying air temperatures (45°C, 55°C and 65°C) and at different initial microwave power densities (0W/g, 1W/g and 2W/g). Dried product quality, product mass, air temperature, air relative humidity, and electric power consumption were used to monitor the performance of the drying process. The results showed that the Midilli-Kucuk model was best in predicting the moisture ratio as a function of drying time. At any given temperature, the utilization of the microwave energy reduced by more than 50% the drying time.