Technical analysis and energy efficiency enhancement of a ginger dehydrator

In any processing facility, the cost of production is critical and will determine whether it remains operational, as high production costs affect its viability. In the case of a ginger processing facility, one major cost is the burning of gas to provide thermal energy to its dehydrator. Research shows that the temperature and humidity of the air in a dehydrator will affect the rate at which a food product is dried. A reduction of 30% in the humidity level of the air can reduce the drying time by 64% for certain food products. In this project, potential modifications for an existing dehydrator are evaluated to determine whether they will improve the overall performance and efficiency of the dehydrator and reduce the amount of energy required to dry the ginger. These potential modifications include incorporating a desiccant dehumidification wheel and a waste heat recovery system to improve the performance of the dehydrator. Apart from removing moisture from the air, the desiccant wheel also transfers thermal energy to the inlet air during the dehumidification process. The detailed model is developed using TRNSYS simulation software, and key component results are validated with experiments. Modelling shows that the combination of a desiccant dehumidification wheel and a heat recovery system can reduce gas consumption by approximately 77%. However, other factors also need to be considered to maximise the improvements in efficiency and performance.