Drying model for highly porous hemispherical bodies

Mass transfer in highly porous and hemispherically shaped bodies was approa ched using a diffusional model. The drying kinetics of broccoli florets wer e investigated and the influence of air velocity and temperature determined . A threshold air velocity of 2.5 m/s was established over which no increas e in the drying rate was observed, indicating that internal resistance cont rols mass transfer at higher velocities. The influence of temperature on dr ying was interpreted by the Arrhenius relationship. The activation energy o btained was 18.5 kJ/mol.