Drying is a common way to preserve fresh products. However, drying can require a lot of time and energy, which makes it difficult to preserve high-value foods such as fruits and vegetables. A new technology, known as heat pump dehydrator, offers a more efficient alternative to traditional drying methods. This type of dryer uses air energy to heat and dry food, resulting in lower operating costs and more sustainable use of energy resources.
The heat pump dehydrator has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to conserve energy and reduce operating costs compared to traditional drying techniques. It works by drawing air into the machine using a fan and then passing it through an evaporator that absorbs the water from the drying product. The air is then heated by the evaporator to a higher temperature and pressure before being compressed in the compressor. The compressed air is then used to heat the drying material, which in turn removes moisture from the surface.
Heat Pump Dehydrator
In recent studies, researchers have demonstrated that heat pump drying of fruits and vegetables can produce dried products with superior quality compared to other drying methods. For example, the use of heat pump drying for guava pieces reduced color degradation and ascorbic acid (AA) loss by 87 and 20% respectively, compared to cabinet and tunnel dryers. Additionally, a two-stage heat pump dryer was able to successfully dehydrate apples and blueberries without losing color or aroma, as well as maintaining their soluble solids content and lactone/terpenoid content. heat pump dehydrator