Conservation of Moroccan apricot varieties using solar energy

Abstract

The agricultural industry is a vital sector in many countries, significantly contributing to employment through both direct and indirect links with food processing and distribution. This research is a sustainable and eco-friendly solution, to conserve two apricot varieties, Carmen and Aurora, in Morocco’s agri-food industry. Utilizing an indirect convective solar dryer under various aero-thermal conditions, the study demonstrates a notable decrease in moisture content for Carmen and Aurora apricots, from initial values of 86.38 % and 82.75 % respectively, to 26.78 ± 3 % (wet.basis). By examining the drying kinetics of apricot slices, the research establishes diffusion coefficients ranging from 4.65 10^-10 to 24.40 10^-10 m²/s for Carmen and from 3.24 10^-10 to 14.16 10^-10 m²/s for Aurora, with the coefficients varying as temperature increases. The Arrhenius equation, indicating an activation energy of 5434.87 kJ/kg, effectively describes the temperature dependency of the diffusion coefficient. Notably, the conductive drying kinetics of apricot slices were found to be best described by the Midilli-Kucuk model. The overall energy consumption exhibited a downward trend as temperatures increased and an upward trend with higher airflow rates. Additionally, the findings showed that higher air temperatures led to better energy efficiency. To assess the performance of the solar dryer being studied, an exergy analysis was conducted. The exergy efficiency of the convective dryer varied between 22.24 % and 54.12 % for Aurora, and between 31.6 % and 57.32 % for Carmen. This innovative approach highlights the potential of green energy in enhancing agricultural practices and product preservation.