بررسی سینتیک خشک شدن پسته رقم کله قوچی در خشک کن چرخشی هوشمند جدید تحت خلاء

Pistachio plays an important role as exportation of Iran. The method of drying process has a remarkable influence on the quality of dried products. There are various methods for drying pistachio; however, choosing a suitable method of drying depends on reliability, healthiness and rapids. In current research, the effect of temperature in three levels of 40, 50 and 60°C and rotational speed of the dryer agitator in three levels of 5, 10 and 15rpm on reduction rate of drying period and drying kinetics of a common Iranian pistachio (Kalleh Ghoochi v.), in a new intelligent- vacuum rotary dryer, was investigated. This dryer was consisted of a cylindrical chamber and a twin electrical heater which dried products in a vacuum medium. The experimental data was analyzed in a statistical software "SPSS 10 " In accordance with the results, temperature and rotational speed of the agitator had a significant effect on drying period. When temperature and speed were 60°C and 15rpm respectively, drying period was short and equaled 185 min, but in temperature of 40°C and speed of 5rpm, drying period was long and equaled 325 min. Increasing the temperature also increased the rate of drying significantly. Results indicated that increasing temperature from 40°C to 50°C caused 25% decrease in the drying period and increasing temperature from 40°C to 60°C caused 39% decrease in drying period.