Rattapon Saengrayup. Development of a Drying Process Using Microwave-Vacuum Combined with Far-infrared. Master's Degree(Food Engineering). King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. KMUTT Library.. : King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 2553-01-30.
Development of a Drying Process Using Microwave-Vacuum Combined with Far-infrared
Abstract:
The main objective of this research was to develop a drying process by combining farinfrared
radiation with microwave-vacuum drying (FIR-MVD). Asparagus was used as
a sample in this study. Microwave-vacuum drying (MVD) and combined far-infrared
radiation with microwave-vacuum drying (FTR-MVD) were studied and compared in
terms of the drying kinetics of the drying material as well as in terms of the color,
shrinkage, rehydration ratio and microstructure of dried material. In addition, artificial
neural network (ANN) models were developed for predicting the temperature and
moisture content in asparagus undergoing MVD and FIR-MVD.
Based on the experimental results, it was found that combined FIR with MVD led to
shorter drying time. Color, shrinkage, rehydration ratio and textural properties of the
dried products were better for FIR combined with MVD. Furthermore, it was found that
modified Page's model could explain the drying behavior of the samples undergoing
both drying methods at all condition studied (R2 = 0.990-0.999). In terms of the errors
of the moisture ratio prediction of asparagus undergoing MVD, it was found that onehidden
layer ANN model provided lower reduced chi-square, root mean square error
and residual sum of squares (3.31 x10.5, 0.58xlO?5 and 2.46 x10?5, respectively) than
those provided by the modified Page's model, which were 2.40 xlO?3, 0.14 and 24.10,
respectively.
In the case of temperature and moisture content predictions, many ANN models were
trained and validated with the experimental data. Inputs for ANN models were the time
(ti+I), temperature at time 't,' (TO, moisture content at time 'ti' (MCi) , magnetron on-off
status, absolute pressure level and FIR power. The outputs were the temperature (Ti+l)
and moisture content (MCi+l) at a given time 'ti+l'. The model for the temperature and
moisture content predictions of asparagus undergoing MVD provided the mean relative
error (MRE) and mean absolute error (MAE) for Ti+1 of 0.19 percent and 0.11 ?C,
respectively. In the case ofMCi+I, the MRE and MAE were 0.09 percent and 0.0011 dry
basis, respectively. The results of the temperature and moisture content predictions of
asparagus undergoing FIR-MVD were that MRE and MAE for Ti+l were 0.22 percent
and 0.12 ?C, respectively. In the case of MC+J. the MRE and MAE were 0.10 percent
and 0.0017 dry basis, respectively. From the study, it was observed that the simulation
of ANN models might supply essential information, i.e., temperature and moisture
content of asparagus corresponding to the drying parameters. This information may be
used for the future development of a drying process design.