A double drum dryer working under atmospheric pressure was developed for water evaporation rate of 20 kg/h. Potato slurry of 12% solid concentration was dried to obtain potato flakes. Experiments were carried out at drum speed of 5 to 30 rpm, steam pressure 2 to7 kg/cm(2) gauge (saturation temperature 120-164 °C) and liquid level 5 to 10 cm at the nip of drums. The responses obtained were, moisture content of the potato flakes: 1.18-44.15% (db), dry matter output rate: 1.33-2.87 kg dry solid/h and L value of colour: 30.9-66.4. Steam pressure and drum speed were the most influencing parameters affecting all 3 responses. Optimum combination of operating variables for obtaining potato flakes of 8% (db) moisture content, high dry solid output rate and high L value of colour was: drum speed 19.6 rpm, steam pressure 4.3 kg/cm(2) gauge (saturation temperature 145 °C) and liquid level at the drum nip 6.3 cm. At this combination of independent variables, residence time of the product on drum surface would be 2 s, final moisture content of product 8% (db), product output rate 2.4 kg dry solid/h and L value of colour 53.
Keywords: Drum dryer; Optimization; Potato flakes; Potato slurry.