C. Martínez-Vera^1,, I. Anaya-Sosa², M. G. Vizcarra-Mendoza¹

In this work are presented experimental results of the drying kinetics for a solid that shrinks between 88% and 94% in volume during the drying process depending on the drying temperature. The drying process is modeled and simulated as an isothermal diffusional process taking in account the shrinkage of the dried material. Two falling-rate drying periods were considered in the drying process. Diffusion-moisture content relationships were determined for each drying period at each of the temperature levels at which the experiments were conducted. Arrhenius type expressions were obtained for the diffusion-temperature dependency from the diffusion-moisture content profiles averaged at each drying temperature considered in this study for each drying period.

diffusion coefficient estimation, shrinking solids, tomato drying, activation energy