PERANCANGAN ALAT PENGERING IKAN LELE ASAP DENGAN TIPE ALIRAN VERTIKAL MENGGUNAKAN EXHAUST FAN

Abstract

Drying is one of the oldest food preservation methods that is effective in reducing water content to extend the shelf life of food ingredients, including catfish. This study aims to design a vertical flow smoked catfish dryer using an exhaust fan. This tool is designed to increase the efficiency of the drying process by considering key factors such as temperature, air flow velocity, humidity, material dimensions, and initial water content. The design process involves heat and mass transfer analysis, material selection, and calculation of technical specifications for components such as drying chambers, racks/trays, ducting, and exhaust fans. The design results show that this tool is able to reduce the water content of fish significantly to an optimal level to inhibit bacterial growth. Thus, this tool is expected to improve the quality of catfish preservation efficiently and economically, supporting the post-harvest fisheries industry in developing countries.