We examined the drying characteristics and the drying rate model equation of garlic(allium sativum L.) using computer aided convective drying. The drying chanacteristic curve of garlic divided into constant rate drying period and 2 stage of falling rate drying period. The drying rate was fairly affected by hot air temperatures during the total drying period, but air flow rates has nearly no effect on the drying rate except initial drying period. Of the several model equation, r2 values of page model equation was the highest, and the estimated drying profiles were comparatively coincided with the observed drying profiles. Page model equation was suitable to predict the drying rate and moisture content during drying of sliced garlic.

To convert the analog signal from the drying process into the digital signal, the interface circuit was designed and built. To measure the weight and temperature during drying process, strain gauge type load cell and temperature transducer composed of pt 100 thermometers and wheatstone bridge circuits were built and used. The temperature control device was composed of photocoupler and triac. Microcomputer aided experimental convective drying system was built with above cricuits and devices. Drying characteristics of onions can be estimated using this system.

For the measurement of the change of respiration rate caused by the gas content of storage atmosphere which furnishes important data for the interpretation of ULO storage, GC was used. It has been shown that the respiration rate and respiratory heat generation rate of Fuji apple is more than doubled in normal low temperature storage when compared with ULO storage, and that in ULO storage the respiration rate and respiratory heat generation rate directly proportional to the concentration of O2 in storage atmosphere as well as inversely proportional to that of CO2. It was possible to establish a functional formula for the respiratory heat generation rate of Fuji apple in all the storage conditions in terms of u=-0.7638+0.0003 O2-0.0007 log(CO2)+0.1369 log(Tb) concerning temperature and the concentration of O2 and CO2