Abstract:
The objectives of this thesis were to study the influence of system pressure (21, 35 and 48 kPa), peppervolume (200, 400 and 800 g) and speed of rotary drum (7, 13.5, 18 and 22 rpm) on temperature andmoisture content during microwave vacuum rotary drum drying. Theoretical and semi-theoretical modelwere used to predict coupling of heat and mass transfer in pepper, and parameters were also determined(explicit). The results showed that there were no significant effect on temperature and moisture contentchanging for all conditions. But the drying rate was occurred when the pressure of system wasdecreased faster and power density increased. The theoretical model failed to provide a good predictionof drying behavior. As a result, semi-theoretical model was used to predict moisture change duringmicrowave vacuum rotary drum drying. A good agreement was found between predicted value and experimented value.