Title of R&D Project: Development of Technology for Organic Dried Vegetable and Fruit-Berry Semi-Finished Products and an Energy-Efficient Unit Using Solar Panels (0117U006532)
Project Lead: Serhii Mykhailovych Sabadash, PhD in Technical Sciences
Stage Duration: October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2020
Funding Amount: 1,275,201 UAH
The scientific novelty of this stage lies in the development of a drying method using a vibro dryer with infrared radiation for drying vegetable and fruit-berry raw materials, and the design of an industrial continuous-action drying unit for its implementation, for which declarative patents of Ukraine are being prepared. The proposed method has several advantages over other drying methods, the main ones being reduced energy consumption and improved product quality. Analytical and experimental studies were conducted, which made it possible to develop a methodology for calculating the proposed industrial dryer. This methodology allows calculation of the main structural parameters of the dryer, its productivity, energy consumption for air heating, fan capacity, etc., depending on the operating parameters of the drying process in the vibro dryer with infrared radiation, including air temperature and velocity, shape and size of product particles, fill factor of the drying chamber, and vibration frequency. Thus, a technological line was developed for drying vegetable and fruit-berry raw materials, which has certain advantages: – an original drying method is proposed using a vibro dryer with infrared radiation, based on kinematic patterns, ensuring 100% contact between the heat carrier and the dried product, which intensifies the process and achieves the required productivity and drying quality; – the use of infrared panels and vibrations makes it possible to reach the required temperatures while preventing the loss of beneficial substances. The above-mentioned advantages lead to the conclusion that this technology is currently the most promising, allowing for the production of high-quality products with low capital and operating costs. The dryer design was defined and created in the laboratory. Calculations and selection of solar panels were carried out for the implementation of the drying process of organic vegetable and fruit-berry raw materials. Modern technological equipment was selected for processing the products into dried semi-finished goods, ensuring minimal duration and energy consumption of the raw material preparation processes for drying, leading to maximally high functional and technological properties of the final product. The importance of auxiliary equipment for integration into the production flow of organic dried vegetable and fruit-berry semi-finished products was established.
