Mathematical Modelling and Determination of Mass Transfer Characteristics of Celeriac Slices under Vacuum Drying

Abstract

This study aimed at mathematical modelling and determination of mass transfer parameters of celeriac slices during vacuum drying at different temperatures and vacuum pressures. The usefulness of eight mathematical thin layer models to simulate the drying kinetics was examined and the Midilli-Kucuk model best described the drying curves with the minimum values of root mean square error and some of squares error. The effective diffusivity of the samples was obtained in the range of  2.1908 × 10^-10 − 8.9304 × 10^-10 (m²/s). Diffusivity increased with increasing drying temperature and decreasing vacuum pressure. The obtained results showed that the convective mass transfer coefficient had ascendant trend during the drying process. Any increment in the drying temperature and vacuum pressure led to an increment and decrement in the convective mass transfer coefficient, respectively.