The present work aims to improve the quality of Algerian Deglet‐Nour dates using an indirect solar drying technique preceded by hot water pretreatment. The final product quality was evaluated by three simultaneous testing parameters: microbiological degradation, sugar composition and color change. Convective solar drying experiments were firstly performed with a variable mode at an average temperature ranging between 39‐55°C. Four other experiments were conducted in constant mode under regulated temperatures (50°C, 55°C, 60°C and 65°C). The results of drying tests, led towards the choice of the treatment under controlled air temperature of 50°C with air flow of 1.2m/s. Resulting drying time of 8 hours presents the advantage of to discard the night conservation problems by ensuring a continuous drying process. Owing to its low cost and green energy use, this study could offer a practical alternative to the conventional means currently used in industrial applications of postharvest heat treatments of dates. Practical applications Drying of naturally high humid dates and the rehydrated dry dates by direct exposure to the sun, is an old method for valorization the “Deglet‐Nour” dates. Considerable losses occur during this drying process so the food quality can be seriously degraded. For an industrial application with improvement the quality of dried product, the natural sun drying should be replaced by the indirect solar drying means. This article aims to improve the quality of Deglet‐Nour dates using an indirect solar drying technique preceded by adequate water steeping pretreatment. The results of the study will be useful in the sense of ensuring an added value by enhancing the product quality and avoid eventual problems induced by night storing of treated products. The obtained results also could offer a practical alternative to the conventional means currently used in industrial applications for post‐harvest heat treatment of Deglet‐Nour dates.
Corrosion is considered one of the major problems that affect flow assurance during hydrocarbon production. This irreversible phenomenon has the ability to cause serious material failure in the oil and gas industry. Consequently, heavy capital and operational costs are required to prevent corrosion processes. Sweet corrosion of raw gas production facilities in an Algerian gas field manifests inside surface installations, which leads to gas production interruption and high intervention costs. To mitigate this type of corrosion, many methods can be applied such as the selection of appropriate materials, the injection of inhibitors, and the use of protective coating. In this work, the main points of gas production system that have been affected by corrosion and the inspection techniques used in the studied field were reviewed. Moreover, the efficiency of two types of two corrosion inhibitors (film-forming/neutralizing and film-forming chemicals) was studied by measuring the corrosion rate in the field and conducting chemical analyses on the produced water samples in the laboratory. The results of laboratory analyses regarding pH and iron content measurement point out that the injection of film-forming/neutralizing chemical significantly shifted the pH of the medium from acid to more neutral value and decreased the iron content, while the injection of film-forming inhibitor affected only the iron content by decreasing its tenor in the water samples. These results confirm the functions of each inhibitor to protect metal against internal corrosion. The comparison between the single- and double-function inhibitors reveals that the film-forming inhibitor (CK981DZ) outperforms the film-forming/ neutralizing chemical with an efficiency that exceeds 99% at low injection rate. Moreover, it provides good compatibility and stability all through its injection path. Meanwhile, the application of double function inhibitor (film-forming/neutralizing) significantly reduced the corrosion rate of carbon steel structures, but it involved the formation of deposits in the gas processing plant. The findings from this study can help give a better understanding of the methodology of corrosion inhibitor performance evaluation in real condition of gas production, also the criteria of inhibitor screening based on laboratory and field tests.
This work was carried up in the objective to valorize the broad beans, largely harvested in Algeria, by solar drying means. In the present research paper, an experimental study was conducted on solar drying of broad beans by two different methods. Experimental trials were performed on a direct and an indirect laboratory scale solar dryers at Ouargla university in the southern of Algeria. Selected samples were dried at 50°C, 55°C, 60°C and 65°C. In both two applied cases, drying curves were obtained and compared. Among twelve consulted drying models the Page model was correlated with satisfaction to describe the solar drying of broad beans using a non linear regression analysis method. Operating and thermal performances of the two used drying systems were checked by the energy effeceincy and economic calculation. Obtained results showed that the direct solar drying ensures good preservation of the final product with a drying time of 5 hours. Keywords: solar drying ; convective drying ; broad bean ; quality
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