Cinética e modelagem da secagem de carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) em secador de bandeja

Abstract

In this work, drying curves were obtained for the star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) in a tray dryer. From theses curves, drying rates and diffusivity data were also obtained and semitheoretical models were adjusted. The drying curves were obtained using a tray dryer with temperatures of 50, 60 and 70°C and an air flux of 1.5 m s-1. The Page, Henderson & Pabis and Exponential models were fitted to the experimental data by non-linear regression. All fitted models presented high determination coefficients (R 2). The Page model showed the best fit. It was observed that effective diffusivity, calculated by Fick's law, increased with temperature.