DETERMINATION OF MASS DIFFUSIVITY COEFFICIENT OF SWEET POTATO

Abstract

Using Luikov's heat and mass transfer equations and a finite element formulation, the drying process of an anisotropic biological product (sweet potato) was investigated. The model was used to determine the coefficients of heat and mass transfer, the mass diffusivity normal and parallel to the fibers of sweet potato samples. These parameters were estimated by minimizing the deviation of experimental data and numerical predictions.

Laboratory experiments with three different configurations were conducted to measure the temperature and moisture content of sweet potato samples during drying. Numerical simulation showed good agreement with the measured values.