Finite Element Simulation of Drying of Apple under Vacuum

A two-dimensional finite element model was developed to simulate mass transfer during apple vacuum drying. The fick’s diffusive model was solved. For experiment validation, a thin layer apple, ‘Golden Delicious’ variety, was dried at drying air temperatures 50, 60, 70 °C with tree replications at air pressure of 20 kPa. FEMLAB software was used to solve the finite element model and it satisfactory predicted the moisture diffusion during vacuum drying. Good agreement was observed when the output of the model was compared to the experimental data. The mean relative deviation modulus and modeling efficiency were used for comparing simulated and experimental data

Keywords:

finite element method , drying simulation , mass transfer , apple , model