ANALISIS KONSEP FISIKA PERPINDAHAN KALOR PADA TEKNOLOGI PENGERINGAN HASIL PERTANIAN

Abstrak

Pengeringan merupakan salah satu proses penting dalam pascapanen bahan pertanian, terutama untuk menurunkan kadar air sehingga meningkatkan umur simpan dan kualitas produk. Berbagai teknologi pengeringan telah dikembangkan untuk mengatasi kendala pengeringan konvensional yang sangat bergantung pada kondisi cuaca. Dalam studi ini, dilakukan analisis terhadap konsep perpindahan kalor yang digunakan dalam teknologi pengeringan bahan pertanian, dengan fokus pada sistem pengering berbasis listrik, surya, refrigerasi, serta kombinasi hibrida. Proses perpindahan kalor secara konduksi, konveksi, dan radiasi menjadi dasar kerja dari berbagai desain alat pengering seperti tray dryer, solar dryer, dan rotary dryer. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa efisiensi perpindahan kalor berbanding lurus dengan kualitas pengeringan, suhu pengering, dan laju aliran udara. Pemanfaatan sistem kendali suhu berbasis Internet of Things (IoT), PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller, serta penambahan reflektor atau thermal storage juga berperan penting dalam meningkatkan efektivitas proses pengeringan. Oleh karena itu, pemahaman mendalam mengenai konsep perpindahan kalor sangat krusial dalam merancang dan mengembangkan alat pengering bahan pertanian yang efisien dan berkelanjutan.

Drying is one of the important processes in post-harvest agricultural materials, especially to reduce water content so as to increase shelf life and product quality. Various drying technologies have been developed to overcome the constraints of conventional drying which is highly dependent on weather conditions. In this study, an analysis of the heat transfer concept used in agricultural material drying technology was conducted, focusing on electricity based, solar based, refrigeration-based, and hybrid combination drying systems. The process of heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation is the basis for the work of various drying device designs such as tray dryers, solar dryers, and rotary dryers. The results of the study show that heat transfer efficiency is directly proportional to drying quality, dryer temperature, and air flow rate. The use of an Internet of Things (IoT) based temperature control system, PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller, and the addition of reflectors or thermal storage also play an important role in increasing the effectiveness of the drying process. Therefore, a deep understanding of the heat transfer concept is crucial in designing and developing efficient and sustainable agricultural material dryers.