Temperature management strategies for a 9kw hybrid FIR-convective fruit dryer

Abstract

A range of infrared heater temperature management mechanisms for a hybrid FIR-convective fruit dryer were designed and tested. The dryer was implemented in order to produce commercial grade apple chips. The infrared heater was subjected to a step-down power converter under current-mode and voltage-mode control. A buck converter was designed and tested to gauge its effectiveness. Simulations were performed on the various system configurations incorporating the buck converter in order to observe their responses to disturbances. In addition these systems were placed under classical control methods and a basic synergetic control scheme.