Mecha, P.Yali, F.Awuah, E.Adele Odero, J.Zhang, J.Kunjie, C.2025-12-182025-12-182023Thermal Science, 2023; 27(6B):4989-50040354-9836https://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/40646Unbalanced drying air and temperature distribution in a dryer is among the major cause of non-uniformity in moisture content of dried food. Thus, the distribution of air and temperature in corner-ended, corner-ended with deflector, curved-ended, and curved-ended with defectors were investigated. Velocities used were 2 m/s, 4 m/s, and 6 m/s while temperatures ranged from 40-60°C. The design with lowest deviations in simulated and actual drying parameters was fabricated to dry mushrooms. Results showed that adding deflectors improved drying air and temperature distribution. The corner-ended with deflector dryer configuration was superior to other designs, with 6 m/s and 60°C being optimal. A mass transfer simulation of the corner-ended with deflectors configuration had moisture evaporate from 1.00-0.11 in 2000 seconds. A comparison of moisture ratios in the two dryers gave R² = 0.9965, which was acceptable. Drying at 55-60°C gave the best Lentinan content and rehydration ratio for mushrooms.enCopyright 2023 Society of Thermal Engineers of Serbia Published by the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia. This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 terms and conditions. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)CFD simulationheat pumpLentinanmushroom dryingrehydration ratiotwin-cabinet dryerJournal article10.2298/TSC230305130M2-s2.0-85185217947