Avaliação energética do processo de sapeco no pré-processamento da erva-mate.

Abstract

The processing of mate is basically consisted of two operations, enzyme inactivation process (sapeco) and drying. The sapeco process is an important step because affects the quality and conservation of final product. This study shows a set of data about the technology used in mate operating units of Paraná State. A questionnaire was applied to obtain data about the production structure and the operational variables of the units. The results showed that the pre-processing mate operations are carried out by different types of mechanical equipments (sapecadores), dimensioned according to the interest or characteristics of each operating unit. Firewood is the principal fuel used in the mate processing units, and the control of sapeco process does not use analytical data. The evaporation of water during the mate sapeco process was studied in five different Systems of mechanic equipments (sapecador). These Systems showed different energetic performance, the biggest ones had best results considering consume and efficiency.