Efficient Tomato Drying Using Refractance Window-UV Equipped With a Heat Pump: Performance Optimization and Kinetic Modeling

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

10.22103/bbr.2026.26958.1148

Abstract

This study investigates the efficiency of a combined Refractance Window-Ultraviolet drying system with a heat pump for tomato processing. Experiments were conducted at three different temperatures: 60, 70, and 80°C, with and without the heat pump. The objective of this research was to evaluate drying time, determine relative humidity, and develop a model under varying conditions. The results showed that at 80°C, with the use of the heat pump, drying time was reduced to 91 minutes, and the final moisture content ratio reached 0.13. The Midilli model was used to analyze moisture reduction, which described the moisture changes well, with a coefficient of determination (R²) higher than 0.99. The highest R² was observed at 70°C without the pump (R² = 0.99834), and the lowest was at 80°C without the pump (R² = 0.98832). These results indicate that the use of a heat pump can optimize the drying process and reduce time. This study demonstrates that the combined Refractance Window-Ultraviolet system with a heat pump can be an efficient method for processing heat-sensitive products such as tomatoes.

Keywords

References

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Biomechanism and Bioenergy Research
Volume 5, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 62-69

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 March 2026
  • Accept Date: 06 March 2026

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