Design and Fabrication of Process Air-Flow and Control Systems of a Food Dehydrator for Powdered Akamu Production

This research details the design and testing of a specialized system for producing dry powdered akamu, a traditional Nigerian fermented cereal porridge. While akamu is a major dietary staple, its high moisture content (approx. 51%) limits its shelf life to roughly seven days under normal conditions. This project addresses this by developing a dehydrator that utilizes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle for air dehumidification combined with electric heating. The system is managed by an Arduino-based smart control system that monitors temperature and humidity levels. Experimental results showed the system successfully reduced akamu moisture content to 26% within three hours, removing 3% more wet mass than traditional heat-only dehydrators.