Determination of thermal physical properties of moringa oleifera leaves

Abstract

The study was done to determine the physical and thermal properties of moringa leaves versus leaves moisture content such as bulk density, shrinkage, specific heat and latent heat evaporation for building the heat and moisture transfer equations of moringa leaves during drying process. When the moisture content of moringa leaves varies from 24.64 to 77.4% (wb.), the specific heat value increases linearly with the moisture content and varies from 3.17 to 3.58 kJ/kg^oC, the bulk density increases from 103.27 to 162.67 kg/m³, the shrinkage decreases from 92.81% to 42.75% and the latent heat of evaporation decreases. The regression equations were determined to predict the bulk density, shrinkage, specific heat and latent heat of evaporation according to the moisture content of moringa leaves.