Thin layer electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying and mathematical modeling of fish

Abstract

The main objective pursued in this paper is to investigate the single layer drying behavior of fish slices experimentally in an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) dryer and also to perform mathematical modeling. Drying experiments of fish slices were studied at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, relative humidity of 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70%, drying voltage from 5 kV to a maximum voltage of 50 kV in increments of 5 kV, the moisture content of fish slice for constant sample thickness (8 mm), and the samples thicknesses from 2 mm to a maximum 16 mm in increments of 2 mm in a EHD dryer. Sample weight, drying rate were measured during drying and drying rate curves were obtained for each experimental data. The drying rate data were performed using seven different mathematical models to estimate a suitable model according to their correlation coefficient (R), determination coefficient (R ^{2} ) and standard error (S), which were predicted by linear and non-linear regression analysis using SPSS computer program. It was deduced that the quadratic model were found to satisfactorily describe the drying rate of fish with the drying voltage, ambient temperature and drying time, respectively. However, the exponential model was the most suitable model to describe the drying rate of fish with the relative humidity, the moisture content and the thickness of fish slices, respectively.