In this work it was studied the onion drying kinetics in thin layer comparing the values of the drying difusivity effective average based on the initial and average thickness of the samples. These results were fitted to a simplified thermal model. It was also analyzed the physical and transport properties of the samples in function of the moisture along the operation. The drying experiments were realized in a dryer with air flowing perpendicular to the cross section area of the bed of samples with Tair=60ºC and v air=1,5m/s. The equilibrium moisture was obtained through the sorption isotherms and the temperature was verified through a termocouple inserted into the particle center. The density apparent and true were obtained through the indirect and destructive methods, respectively. The values of the moisture difusivity effective variable were obtained through the method of the tangents. The simplified thermal model presented better correlation with the values of the moisture difusivity effective average, based on the medium thickness. The values of the density apparent and true of the samples were fitted in function of the moisture using LOZANO, ROTSTEIN and URBICAIN [10] equation, presenting correlation coefficients greater that 96%. The reduction of thickness of the samples was of 80% in relation to initial. The results of the moisture difusivity effective average based on the medium thickness of the samples were similar to the medium values of the moisture difusivity effective variable for the first period drying.
onion; thin layer drying; moisture difusivity effective
