International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences
Volume-2 Issue-2, 2016, Page No: 1-7
Study of Drying Characteristics of Bottle Gourd in Tray Dryer
K.A. Shinde1, S.G. Pawar2,S.U. Khodke3
1.K.A. Shinde, M.Tech. Scholar, Deptt. of Agricultural Process Engineering, Vasantrao Naik Marathawada Agriculture University, Parbhani-431402, Maharashtra.
2.S.U. Khodke, Associate Professor, Deptt. of Agricultural Process Engineering, Vasantrao Naik Marathawada Agriculture University, Parbhani-431402, Maharashtra.
3.Pawar S.G., Ph.D. Scholar, Deptt. Of Agricultural Process Engineering, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhyapith, Akola-44104, Maharashtra.
Citation : K.A. Shinde,S.G. Pawar, S.U. Khodke, Study of Drying Characteristics of Bottle Gourd in Tray Dryer International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences . 2016;2(2):1-7.
Abstract
The study was undertaken to investigate the drying characteristics of bottle guard powder experimentally. Bottle gourd powder was prepared by varying process parameters i.e. steam blanching time (2, 4, 5 and 8 min) and drying air temperature (50, 60, 70 and 80°C) and one without blanched sample was evaluated for each drying air temperature. The bottle gourd shreds were subjected to thin layer hot air drying in a cabinet dryer keeping constant air velocity of 1.5 m/sec. The total average drying time required to attain the average moisture content of 0.04 kg water per kg dm at drying temperature of 50, 60, 70 and 80°C was 660, 480, 420 and 345 minutes, respectively. The optimum values of steam blanching pre treatment (6 min) prior to hot air drying (60°C) was found to be the most effective treatment to obtain better quality bottle gourd powder.