Analisis Kinerja Multi Purpose Smart Dryer (Mpsd-H) Mode Hybrid Pada Proses Pengeringan Marning

Abstract

Drying is a critical stage in marning corn processing that significantly affects product quality and shelf life. This study aimed to analyze the performance of the Multi Purpose Smart Dryer (MPSD-H) operating in hybrid mode by combining electrical energy and LPG gas to improve drying effectiveness and product acceptability. The research was conducted from December 2025 to March 2026 using an experimental method with 14 kg of marning (lime-boiled corn) as the raw material. Parameters observed included temperature and humidity distribution, moisture content reduction, drying rate, energy consumption, drying efficiency, as well as sensory preference test, hardness test, and color analysis.The results showed that moisture content was successfully reduced from approximately 76.3% to 9.51% within 15 hours. Average electrical energy consumption was 22.356 kJ and gas energy consumption was 48.990 kJ, resulting in a total energy input of 71.346 kJ with a drying efficiency of 31.3%. Sensory preference evaluation involving 50 panelists indicated that MPSD-H-dried marning corn was more preferred over sun-dried marning corn across all sensory attributes, with average scores of 3.94 for color, 3.71 for aroma, 3.88 for texture, 4.22 for taste, and 4.00 for overall acceptability. Hardness test results showed that MPSD-H-dried marning corn had an average hardness value of 14.87 N, higher than sun-dried samples at 10.07 N, indicating a firmer and denser texture. Color analysis using a colorimeter showed a higher b* value (yellowness) in MPSD-H-dried samples (23.93) compared to sun-dried samples (22.16), indicating that the characteristic yellow color of marning corn was better preserved using the MPSD-H method. Although some heat losses still occurred during operation, the hybrid MPSD system demonstrated stable temperature distribution, accelerated the drying process approximately five times faster than conventional methods, and improved overall product quality. An economic feasibility analysis based on energy consumption data showed a total production cost of Rp26.319–Rp27.443/kg, which, compared to a selling price of Rp42.,424/kg, resulted in a revenue-cost (R/C) ratio of 1.55 1.61, indicating that the MPSD-H drying process is economically feasible for small scale production. Therefore, the MPSD hybrid drying system is a promising and more controlled alternative to traditional sun-drying methods.