Optimization of energy saving technology for drying dehydrated garlic slices

This study was carried out to investigate the energy saving technique of dehydrated garlic slices in heated-air circulate drying. The dehydration process of garlic slices was optimized by three factors quadratic orthogonal rotary design, and the quadratic regression equations were established and the predicted minimum energy consumption was 1.96 kWh/kg. The optimum technique parameters of air temperature, sample slice thickness and loading density were 62.3℃, 2.38 mm and 2.69 kg/m2, respectively. The verification test was carried out at air temperature of 62℃, sample slice thickness of 2.4mm, loading density of 2.7 kg/m2, the energy consumption was 2.05 kWh/kg, and the yield was 4.11 kg/h. Compared with the technique at present, the optimum technique can reduce by 27% of the energy consumption.