TY - JOUR T1 - Indirect Solar Drying Kinetics of Sheanut (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn) Kernels AU - Bup, Divine Nde AU - , Charles Fon Abi AU - , Dzudie Tenin AU - , Cesar Kapseu AU - , Clerge Tchiegang AU - , Zephirin Mouloungui JO - Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences VL - 8 IS - 6 SP - 183 EP - 191 PY - 2013 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1816-949x DO - jeasci.2013.183.191 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2013.183.191 KW - Indirect solar drying KW -modelling KW - shrinkage KW -modelling KW - shrinkage KW -temperature AB - An indirect solar dryer was tested for drying sheanut kernels. The influence of tray distance from heat source, airspeed and particle size on drying kinetics was investigated. Optimum drying air parameters obtained in the dryer were airspeeds of 1 and 1.4 m sec-1 and a temperature of 40-45°C. Sheanut kernel slices dried entirely in the falling rate period. Drying rate decreased with increase in particle size. The effect of particle size on the drying rate suggested that the drying process was controlled by internal mass transfer. Drying kinetics was modeled with characteristic drying curve and diffusive models. Effective moisture diffusivities of sheanut kernel slices calculated without shrinkage were greater than those calculated with the incorporation of shrinkage by a value of about 50%. Acid and peroxide values indicated that butter from the dryer could be classified either as category 1 or 2 irrespective of the drying conditions to which the kernels were subjected. ER -