Experimental study of a closed-cycle heat pump dryer for snakehead fish

¹ Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sumatra, Indonesia
² Sustainable Energy Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sumatra, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: himsar@usu.ac.i

Abstract

Snakehead fish (Channa striata) is a type of fish that has economic value. Apart from that, it contains albumin which the human body needs. Albumin is a source of animal antioxidants which functions as a radical scavenger so that it plays a role in the process of cleaning and capturing ROS. Albumin is usually consumed in liquid form and has a fishy smell, therefore, an alternative is needed, namely a drying method. Albumin is a protein that is easily damaged by heat. Therefore, the drying process uses a vacuum dryer. In the drying process of albumin powder, drying temperature is a factor that influences the quality produced. The best drying temperature for albumin is 49ºC and the reduction in albumin quality is at 60 ºC. Closed cycle heat pump dryers have the advantages of not being contaminated with dirt from the outside air, low and controlled drying temperatures, not depending on the weather, and relatively cheap equipment prices. This research conducted experimental tests on a closed cycle heat pump drying machine to analyze the performance and water content in drying snakehead fish samples and maintaining the drying temperature below 60ºC to keep the albumin from being damaged. In this test, the range of 40.3 – 50.6 water content was achieved, namely 5% of the initial water content of 78.19, 0.619, a drying rate value of 0.619 kg/hour with a total performance value of 10.15. And the comparison value of steamed water with the energy required is SMER 0.47 kWh/kg and SEC 2.10 kWh/kg and the heat pump efficiency is 25%. With the results obtained, this closed cycle heat pump dryer is very suitable for use in the drying industry, especially in the snakehead fish drying industry.