Implementación de un deshidratador automatizado para frutas, controlando variables climáticas, y bandejas rotativas.

Abstract

The purpose of this research is based on the development of an automated dehydrator with rotating trays for fruits, which controls the climatic conditions such as temperature and humidity over time. The control system was made through the configuration of the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), the Human Machine Interface (HMI), and Frequency inverter for the rotation of the trays inside the cabinet. For the PLC, HMI, PC communication, we used Ethernet type wired network. For the construction of the machine, we used 304 stainless steel. The operating design is based on the conservation of heat in the drying cabinet, which is achieved by the circulation of hot air stimulated from the heating stage, through the energy exchanger to the rotating trays in the drying cabinet. The drying times in the dehydration process were relatively improved by a better distribution of heat, and several screens were programmed in the graphic interface, such as: selection or entry of recipe for fruits, monitoring of climatic conditions in real time inside the dehydration cabinet. The tests of the dehydrator were carried out in a period of 30 calendar days, whose data were processed, collected and analyzed, resulting in a dehydration of fruits in less time compared to the dehydrators that exist in the market, to conclude that the dehydrator is 18.75% more efficient due to the reduction of time of 60 min in the normal drying process of 320 min. The moderate recommended load is < 10 kg, to the maximum load og 15 kg.