Investigation on Drying Performance and Energy Savings of the Batch-Type Heat Pump Dryer

Abstract

Simulation of the heat pump cycle and the drying process has been carried out to obtain the design parameters of the dryer. The analysis indicates that a specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) greater than 3.4 kg/kWh can be obtained. A box-type heat pump dryer has been developed and investigated for the performance of drying of shredded radish. Heat pump drying took 1.0–1.5 times longer than hot air drying. However, the heat pump dryer showed considerable improvement in energy savings. The SMER of the heat pump dryer was about three times higher than that of the hot air dryer.

Keywords:

• Energy efficiency
• Heat pump dryer
• Shredded radish
• Specific moisture extraction rate (SMER)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the Korea Energy Management Corporation. The authors gratefully appreciate for the support.

Notes

^a Based on hot air drying with the open damper.

^b Based on hot air drying with the half open damper.