METHOD FOR DRYING VEGETABLE MATERIALS Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: drying vegetable materials such as food products, vegetables, mushrooms, fruit, greens, spices, and the like.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes a few cycles of high-speed vacuum treatment of vegetable materials in drying chamber by means of receiver, high-speed valves, and pipelines with vegetable materials continuously heated in atmosphere-isolated drying chamber. In the course of material drying and exposure to residual vacuum heating is effected up to temperature that does not cause material denaturation of material until steam pressure in enclosed space of drying chamber is equalized with equilibrium steam pressure at this temperature. Volume of receiver, when being joined with drying chamber, provides for building up pressure within the latter lower than equilibrium steam pressure at given temperature; diameter of pipeline connecting drying chamber to receiver is found from formula given in description of invention. Proposed method provides for drying vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, and other food products within one or two hours.

EFFECT: enlarged amount of vegetable products dried within short time; improved quality of dried products.

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