Drying kinetics, thermal performance, drying characteristic of different shaped potato samples: An experimental validation with mathematical model

In this work, three different sample shapes were tested to compare their drying behavior, drying kinetics, morphology, efficiency, and the heat and mass transfer processes involved. A model was also adjusted to match the experimental outcomes. Key observations include that maximum solar radiation was noted at 771 W/m², with the ambient temperature reaching 40 °C. In Case-I, the highest crop surface temperature of 56 °C was observed at 14:00, while in Sample-II and Sample-III, the temperatures peaked at 64.1 °C and 69.5 °C, respectively, at same time, due to higher solar radiation intensity. The drying rates for the different samples varied throughout the day. For Sample-I, the highest drying rate was 0.017 g/g db.hr at 11:00, after which it gradually decreased. For Sample-II and Sample-III, the peak drying rates were 0.012 and 0.017 g/g db.hr, respectively, at 11:00. The drying efficiency was also measured, with Case-I showing the highest efficiency of 27 %, due to optimal heat utilization. Case-II and Case-III recorded efficiencies of 25.6 % and 21.9 %, respectively. Economically, this drying system is more cost-effective than others on the market, offering a short payback period of just 1.26 years. In summary, the study highlights the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the drying system, with encouraging results in terms of energy utilization, drying rates, and model accuracy for predicting drying behavior.