Fluidized Bed Drying Properties and Kinetics Model of Maca Tubers

Abstr act Mac a tubers were dried with fluidized bed. The effects of three operating parameters( intake air temperature, air flow, the particle diameter) on drying and dehydration rate curves of maca tubers were studied.Water loss rule of maca tubers by fluidized bed drying was obtained. According to the experimental data, the kinetic model of maca tubers by fluidized bed drying was established, and the statistical test and verification for the obtained model were implemented. The results showed that the best model of maca tubers by fluidized bed drying was a Page model: ln(-ln MR)=-6.49 9+0.014 3T+0.015 4V+0.708L+(1.556-0.001 46T-0.003 11V-0.185L)lnt.The fitting equation could describe the maca root fluidized bed drying process well, and could accurately predict the phase of maca root water rate and water loss rate.