Environomical Analysis and Mathematical Modelling for Tomato Flakes Drying in a Modified Greenhouse Dryer under Active Mode

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the main concern is to complete a performance analysis, a mathematical modelling and an environmental analysis of tomato flakes drying in a modified greenhouse dryer under active mode. Experimentation was conducted simultaneously in the designed dryer and also with natural drying processes. Tomato flakes were dried from an initial moisture of 96.0% w.b. to a final moisture of 9.09% w.b. for 15 h in the dryer. In this communication, mathematical modelling and environmental analysis were done for tomato flakes drying in the designed dryer. In the environmental analysis, various environmental and economic parameters have been evaluated, including the payback period by cost, energy payback time (EPBT), embodied energy, CO2 emission and the earned carbon credit. Seven existing drying kinetics models have been applied and one mathematical model has been proposed. The coefficient of determination for the proposed model is 0.9985, which is higher than all other existing models. The payback period by the cost of the dryer is only 1.9 years. The embodied energy of the dryer is 628.7287 kWh. The EPBT is only 1.14 year, and CO2 emission per year is 17.6 kg per year. The net CO2 emission is 38.06 tonnes and the earned carbon credit varies from 12,561.70 INR to 50,245.49 INR during its lifespan. The nutrient content of the dried tomato – in the dryer as well as in open sun drying – was examined. Tomato dried in the dryer was found to have more nutrient content than with open sun drying. The total experimental uncertainty is 23.41%.