Investigation of Drying Time and Final Moisture Content of Arabica beans in a Solar Drying Chamber

Authors

  • Rendi Ramdhani Widyatama University
  • Selly Septianissa Widyatama University
  • Ahmad Rajani Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23960/jtepl.v14i6.2239-2249
Abstract View: 36

Keywords:

Air velocity, Arabica beans, Drying rate, Moisture content, Phase change material, Solar drying chamber

Abstract

Drying is a critical stage that affect directly the quality, storability, and market value of Arabica coffee beans. The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of a solar drying chamber integrated with a thermal collector and phase change material (PCM), operated under a constant airflow velocity of 9.2 m/s. Arabica beans of 1500 g were dried over two observation days, with chamber temperatures ranging from 40 °C to 46.5 °C and peak solar radiation of 1122 W/m². The results showed that the system effectively maintained thermal stability and drying performance despite fluctuations in solar input. The analysis revealed at Day 2 achieved a higher and faster moisture reduction due to improved solar conditions and absorber efficiency, with drying rates peaking at over 42 g vapor per hour in the third hour. In contrast, at Day 1 the drying rate peaked in the third hour at approximately 22.45 g vapor/h. Day 1 exhibited a more stable but slower drying trend. Overall, the system successfully reduced the beans’ moisture content to below 12.8% in within under 14 hours, with Tray 2 delivering the most consistent results. These findings demonstrate that the integration of solar thermal energy, PCM, and forced convection application significantly improved drying efficiency and reliability, offering a sustainable alternative for post-harvest processing, especially in regions with variable weather conditions.

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Author Biographies

Rendi Ramdhani, Widyatama University

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Selly Septianissa, Widyatama University

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ahmad Rajani, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN)

Research Centre for Energy Conversion and Conservation

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Published

2025-12-10

How to Cite

Ramdhani, R., Septianissa, S., & Rajani, A. . (2025). Investigation of Drying Time and Final Moisture Content of Arabica beans in a Solar Drying Chamber. Jurnal Teknik Pertanian Lampung (Journal of Agricultural Engineering), 14(6), 2239–2249. https://doi.org/10.23960/jtepl.v14i6.2239-2249