BULK DENSITY, POROSITY AND RESISTANCE TO AIRFLOW OF GARLIC SLICES

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Abstract
The bulk density of garlic slices at different moisture levels (ranging from approximately 3 to 65% MC wet basis) was determined by weighing the contents of a container of known volume. The porosity was calculated using its relationship with bulk and apparent densities. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that bulk density and porosity were affected significantly by moisture and slice thickness as well as the interaction of these variables. Bulk density varied in a positive linear fashion with moisture and thickness while a negative linear correlation was found for the calculated bulk porosity. The linear model met me adequacy criterion for characterising the behaviour of garlic. Using a laboratory unit, the vertical resistance to airflow through the product and die effect of moisture and slice thickness were investigated for an airflow rates of 0.09 to 1.2 m3/s-m2. A higher resistance to airflow was noted for the wet product with the experimental data fitting to Shedd's model when the airflow range was divided into two sub-flow rates and to a modified Ergun's equation for the full range.

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