Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine twelve different mathematical models for red pepper plant (Capsicum annum L.) and to investigate the appropriate models of mass fraction (Mt / Mo) in relation to drying time.This study attempted to assess the efficiency and profitability of the drying of red pepper under the plastic tunnel greenhouse and a total of twelve models, including Newton, Page, Improved Page, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic, Wang and Singh, Diffusion, Two-Term Exponentia, Two-Term, and Simplified Fick Diffusion, were evaluated. The drying process was carried out in three different periods. During each application period, separate drying experiments were carried out for the product densities of 2, 3, 4, and 5 kg/m2. The data obtained in the experiments were compared with the values found in the twelve different separable moisture content models in the literature and the most suitable model was determined by evaluating the expression coefficient (R2), the sum of the squares of the residuals (RSS) and the estimated standard error (SEE). The best values were obtained in the first period when drying tests were carried out at a product density of 5 kg/m2. According to statistical analysis results obtained using mathematical models, it was determined that the most appropriate mathematical model with the highest expression coefficient (R2) was the Two-Term model given an equality of (Mt / Mo) = a exp (-k1t) + bexp (-k2t). When the coefficients of model, model coefficients and calculated values were compared with experimental data, the highest expression coefficient was obtained with Two-Term model and was at 0.9886-0.9977 level. This suggested that the model experiment could be used in practice for estimating conditions.

Key words: Red pepper, drying, greenhouse type dryer, mathematical model.