Study of influence of average diameter and rolling friction of hawthorn fruits on moisture content during drying process

Abstract

The method and technology were developed to study the influence of an average diameter, mass and rolling friction of hawthorn fruits on the moisture content during the drying process. It was established that the fruits of smoothed hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha L.) have a large unevenness in diameters of 11 mm - 21 mm and weight of 1.3 g - up to 4.2 g. The average diameter of hawthorn fruits decreases from 16 to 12.5 mm with a decrease in moisture content from 74.9 to 14%; the coefficient of rolling friction of hawthorn fruits on the surface of the working chamber increases from 0.12 to 0.31 with a decrease in moisture content from 74.9 to 14%. The results of these studies of hawthorn fruits can be used in the future when designing drying plants and improving drying technology.