Energy and Mass Balance in Storing Seed Potato Tubers Using a Para-Para System

Abstract

This research aims to analyze heat and mass transfer when storing seed potatoes using a para-para system. The research treatments were: Natural Aeration Without Sunlight (NANSL), Natural Aeration With Sunlight (NASL), Forced Aeration Without Sunlight (ANSL), and Forced Aeration With Sunlight (ASL). The para-para has dimensions of 90 cm wide and 225 cm high and consists of 6 shelves; the distance between the shelves is 30 cm. Potato tubers are stored in plastic baskets with a capacity of 10 kg and placed on shelves. Aeration uses air flow exhaled by a blower with a flow rate of 3.14 m3/sec. The variables observed included air temperature, potato tuber temperature, air humidity, light intensity, potato tuber weight loss, and the number of tubers growing apically. The total heat of respiration of storage treatments with NANSL, NASL, ANSL, and ASL were, respectively, 0.89 ± 0.08, 0.73 ± 0.06, 11.43 ± 0.2, and 11.2 ± 0.3 kJ/kg. The heat used to evaporate water from potato tubers is 0.17–0.42, 010-0.37, 0.03-0.15, and 0.02-0.11 kJ/kg. Average heat to raise the air temperature is 0.160±0.04, 0.136±0.02, 0.409±0.03, and 0.379±0.05 kJ/kg. Total heat lost to the environment for treatments NANSL, NASL, ANSL, and ASL is 0.89 kJ/kg, 0.73 kJ/kg, 11.43 kJ/kg, and 11.2 kJ/kg. The average amount of water vapor in the air in the NANSL, NASL, ANSL, and ASL storage treatments is: 0.0133±0.0008, 0.0133±0.0001, 0.0134±0.0005, and 0.0134±0.0005 kg/kg. Storing potato tubers on granola G3 variety seeds using the para-para model was able to produce quality seeds with seed damage of 2.47–10.28% and weight loss of 1.78–1.86%. The ANSL treatment produced seed potatoes with the best growth quality of 94.7 ± 1.1%.