Research on the drying characteristics of white radish slices based on a dual-source heat pump-low-temperature regeneration desiccant wheel system

This study proposes a dual-source heat pump-desiccant wheel drying (HP-DWD) system that integrates low-temperature regeneration to overcome the limitations of conventional open- and closed-loop systems. Drying experiments on white radish slices were conducted at temperatures of 35- 45 °C, air velocities of 1-3 m/s, and slice thicknesses of 3-7 mm. At 45°C, HP-DWD reduced drying time by 20% and energy consumption by 8.1% compared to heat pump drying (HPD), while rehydration capacity improved by 6%. Exergy efficiency increased by 21.24%, owing to reduced compressor and condenser losses. The Page model accurately described the drying kinetics (R² = 0.994). These results demonstrate the system's potential for energy-efficient, high-quality drying of heat-sensitive agricultural products.