Drying Foodstuffs with Superheated Steam

A thin-layer superheated steam drier was constructed with the objective of determining the drying characteristics, drying rates, and the effect of superheated steam on product quality in thin-layers. Results from superheated steam drying experiments with sugar-beet pulp, potatoes, Asian noodles, and spent grains indicate that drying times and rates increase with increasing steam temperature. For sugar-beet pulp it was also found that these changes were more significant than increases seen by hot-air drying under the same conditions and that drying rates were not affected by velocity for hot air but were increased for superheated steam. When quality aspects were examined, superheated steam dried Asian noodles saw both beneficial changes to recovery, adhesiveness, and gumminess while parameters of maximum cutting stress, resistance to compression, and surface firmness saw deleterious effects. Spent grains saw high levels of starch gelatinization and retention of fibre content.     

Drying Kinetics of Instant Asian Noodles Processed in Superheated Steam

The objective for this work was to develop a novel technique for creating instant noodles by determining the drying kinetics of noodles undergoing simultaneous drying and processing using superheated steam. The mathematical model of moisture ratio was differentiated to determine the drying rates of noodles during processing. There was a constant rate drying period for all temperatures at a steam velocity of 1.5 m/s but there was no constant rate drying period at a steam velocity of 0.5 m/s. The constant rate drying period suggested by measurement of internal noodle temperature is much longer and well defined for all processing conditions than from the drying curves. The constant drying rate period, was nearly 200 s at 110°C but decreased to 50 s at 150°C. Equilibrium moisture content isobars were determined from mass changes during superheated steam processing. It was determined that isotherm equations for equilibrium moisture content in hot air systems may be utilized to model isobars in superheated steam systems.     

Drying Western Red Cedar with Superheated Steam

This exploratory study evaluated the possibility of drying 50-mm-thick western red cedar with superheated steam. Since there are no industrial facilities in Canada drying western red cedar with superheated steam, the study was designed to explore the potential of this technology in terms of lumber quality, moisture content distribution, and drying time. The experiments showed that the 50-mm-thick product can be dried in less than three days without jeopardizing lumber quality (in comparison with the two weeks that is currently required in conventional kilns), and the percentage of pieces that remained wet after drying was within the 10% to 15% range that is typically tolerated in industry.     

Enhancement of Properties of Diverse Grades of Paper by Superheated Steam Drying

Abstract:

Studies from this laboratory have documented significant changes in properties when paper is dried in superheated steam rather than, as in all current processes, in air. Extending these investigations to additional important pulp types, recycled pulps, and filled papers, and using commercial furnishes from mills, has identified further grades of paper for which drying in superheated steam enhances key properties. For bleached chemithermomechanical pulps and blends with kraft pulp, as used for tissue and toweling, strong paper resulted with 10% higher bulk. Linerboard from 100% recycled old corrugated containers (OCC) is obtained with various strength properties increased by up to 21% with no densification, actually a 4% increase in bulk. Linerboard from high-yield (55–67%) virgin kraft pulps shows a 23 to 37% increase in strength and toughness. Filled papers containing 0–10% clay can be produced with the same brightness but 23% higher tensile index when dried in superheated steam.     

Drying Characteristics In Superheated Steam Drying at Reduced Pressure

The superheated steam drying at reduced pressure is performed, and the effects of operational conditions such as drying pressure and temperature on the drying characteristics are examined. In order to obtain the basic guideline for the design of the superheated steam dryer at reduced pressure, the heat flux to sample was calculated and the optimal conditions were estimated.

After the sample temperature reached at the boiling point, the temperature was maintained at the boiling point and the drying rate became almost constant. Once the sample was dried out, the temperature suddenly increased up to the drying gas temperature. From the calculation of combined heat flux, the followings were found. The contribution of radiative heat transfer to the combined heat flux became larger as the drying pressure was lower. The combined heat flux had a maximum value against the drying pressure. The optimum drying pressure, which gave the maximum heat flux, became lower as the drying gas temperature decreased. It was found that reduction in the drying pressure is effective for the enhancement in drying performance.     

Drying Characteristics In Superheated Steam Drying at Reduced Pressure

Abstract

The superheated steam drying at reduced pressure is performed, and the effects of operational conditions such as drying pressure and temperature on the drying characteristics are examined. In order to obtain the basic guideline for the design of the superheated steam dryer at reduced pressure, the heat flux to sample was calculated and the optimal conditions were estimated.

After the sample temperature reached at the boiling point, the temperature was maintained at the boiling point and the drying rate became almost constant. Once the sample was dried out, the temperature suddenly increased up to the drying gas temperature. From the calculation of combined heat flux, the followings were found. The contribution of radiative heat transfer to the combined heat flux became larger as the drying pressure was lower. The combined heat flux had a maximum value against the drying pressure. The optimum drying pressure, which gave the maximum heat flux, became lower as the drying gas temperature decreased. It was found that reduction in the drying pressure is effective for the enhancement in drying performance.     

Evaluation of Three Semi-empirical Models for Superheated Steam Vacuum Drying of Timbers

Abstract

Superheated steam drying at sub-atmospheric pressure (SSV) has been successfully employed in Europe and Asia for drying some types of timbers, showing that drying time could be reduced by 50% with respect to conventional drying without significant losses in the quality of the final product. This reduction is the consequence of a different heat and mass transfer control mechanism. Since SSV drying is carried out in absence of gaseous air, diffusion of the generated vapor is not a limiting factor and drying rate becomes more dependent on heat transference. Therefore, classical interpretation of timber drying as a process based on moisture migration control is not applicable to SSV. This work is targeting the development and validation of a simplified semi-empirical model for SSV drying of timbers. Mathematical representation of the proposed model is uncomplicated and straightforward to apply, and the comparison between model predicted and experimental data showed a high degree of agreement under variable drying conditions.     

Evaluation of Three Semi-empirical Models for Superheated Steam Vacuum Drying of Timbers

Superheated steam drying at sub-atmospheric pressure (SSV) has been successfully employed in Europe and Asia for drying some types of timbers, showing that drying time could be reduced by 50% with respect to conventional drying without significant losses in the quality of the final product. This reduction is the consequence of a different heat and mass transfer control mechanism. Since SSV drying is carried out in absence of gaseous air, diffusion of the generated vapor is not a limiting factor and drying rate becomes more dependent on heat transference. Therefore, classical interpretation of timber drying as a process based on moisture migration control is not applicable to SSV. This work is targeting the development and validation of a simplified semi-empirical model for SSV drying of timbers. Mathematical representation of the proposed model is uncomplicated and straightforward to apply, and the comparison between model predicted and experimental data showed a high degree of agreement under variable drying conditions.     

Use of Superheated Steam Drying to Increase Strength and Bulk of Papers Produced from Diverse Commercial Furnishes

ABSTRACT

Studies from this laboratory have documented significant changes in properties when paper is dried in superheated steam rather than, as in all current processes, in air. Extending these investigations to additional important pulp types, to recycled pulps and to filled papers, using commercial furnishes from mills, has identified further grades of paper for which drying in superheated steam enhances key properties. For bleached chemithermomechanical pulps and blends with kraft pulp as used for tissue and toweling, strong paper resulted, with 10% higher bulk. Linerboard from 100% recycled old corrugated containers (OCC) is obtained with various strength properties increased by up to 21% with no densification, actually a 4% increase in bulk. Linerboard from high-yield (55–67%) virgin kraft pulps show 23 to 37% increase in strength and toughness. Filled papers containing 0–10% clay can be produced with the same brightness but about 23% higher tensile index when dried in superheated steam.     

Use of Superheated Steam Drying to Increase Strength and Bulk of Papers Produced from Diverse Commercial Furnishes

Studies from this laboratory have documented significant changes in properties when paper is dried in superheated steam rather than, as in all current processes, in air. Extending these investigations to additional important pulp types, to recycled pulps and to filled papers, using commercial furnishes from mills, has identified further grades of paper for which drying in superheated steam enhances key properties. For bleached chemithermomechanical pulps and blends with kraft pulp as used for tissue and toweling, strong paper resulted, with 10% higher bulk. Linerboard from 100% recycled old corrugated containers (OCC) is obtained with various strength properties increased by up to 21% with no densification, actually a 4% increase in bulk. Linerboard from high-yield (55-67%) virgin kraft pulps show 23 to 37% increase in strength and toughness. Filled papers containing 0-10% clay can be produced with the same brightness but about 23% higher tensile index when dried in superheated steam.     

Hybrid Drying of Rubberwood Using Superheated Steam and Hot Air in a Pilot-Scale

A pilot-scale rubberwood dryer was constructed and injected with superheated steam and hot air to study the effect of the hybrid system on the drying rate and mechanical properties of the wood. A total of 300 pieces of rubberwood boards, each with dimensions of 1000 mm long × 76.2 mm wide × 25.4 mm thick, were stacked in 1.0 m × 1.0 m × 1.7 m (1.7 m³) pallet. The stack was impinged with alternating cycles of superheated steam and hot air. The time required for conventional drying was 168 hours, but the drying time for the hybrid system was only 64 hours, resulting in a 62% reduction.

After being dried, the rubberwood boards were mechanically tested for static bending, compression strength, hardness, and shear strengths. From the mechanical tests, the hybrid drying system using superheated steam and hot air had no significant effect on the mean shear strength parallel-to-grain; however; the mean compression strength parallel-to-grain was reduced by 24.2% and the mean MOR by 21.4%. Nonetheless, the mean MOE was increased by 30.4% and the mean of hardness by 16.4%.     

Superheated Steam Vacuum Drying of Rubberwood

The effect of superheated steam vacuum drying (SSVD) on the drying time and mechanical properties of rubberwood was studied. Rubberwood boards with dimensions of 1000 mm × 76.2 mm × 25.4 mm were dried at 86.7–89.3 kPa vacuum pressure (14.6–12.0 kPa absolute) and temperatures of 60, 70, and 80°C. Superheated steam at 110°C was injected intermittently to relieve stress buildup in wood and eliminate cracking. The prong test was used to evaluate the initial acceptability of the dried wood and the mechanical properties of wood were measured. From this study, the total drying time was reduced from 168 h to less than 20 h (MC reduction from 0.80 to 0.06 db). In addition, compared to the reference values shown in the parentheses, the shear parallel-to-grain, the compression parallel-to-grain, the compression perpendicular-to-grain, the modulus of rupture (MOR), the modulus of elasticity (MOE), and the hardness for the optimum drying temperature of 70°C were 28.87 (11.0) MPa, 59.09 (32.0) MPa, 21.09 (5.0) MPa, 101.97 (66.0) MPa, 9838.5 (9240.0) MPa, and 6475 (4350) N, respectively. Thus, the vacuum-dried wood showed a 32% increase in hardness, a 12% increase in compression parallel-to-grain, and an 88% increase in shear parallel-to-grain.     

Optimum Processing Conditions of Instant Asian Noodles in Superheated Steam

There is little information in the literature about what constitutes an acceptable instant noodle. To ascertain the commercial acceptability of superheated steam-processed instant noodles, a sampling of commercial products was undertaken. Noodles processed at a steam velocity of 1.5 m/s and at 125°C for 200 s, 130°C for 167 s, 135°C for 150 s, 140°C for 133 s, 150°C for 100 s, and a steam velocity of 1.0 m/s and 150°C for 133 s had acceptable color values (L? values greater than 63, a? values less than 0, and b? values above 20) and moisture at or below the safe storage limit. Superheated steam processed noodles were more firm and chewy than the commercial noodles. Adhesiveness, springiness, and resilience were generally the same for all noodle products. Breaking strength of superheated steam processed noodles was in the same range as the fried control and commercial products. Values varied from a low of 1121 ± 194 g/mm² for noodles processed at 150°C, 1.5 m/s, for 100 s to a high of 1575 ± 329 g/mm² for noodles processed at 140°C, 1.5 m/s, for 133 s. Starch gelatinization was greatest in the fried control samples and the least in the superheated steam processed samples (approximately 9% less).     

Optimum Processing Conditions of Instant Asian Noodles in Superheated Steam

There is little information in the literature about what constitutes an acceptable instant noodle. To ascertain the commercial acceptability of superheated steam-processed instant noodles, a sampling of commercial products was undertaken. Noodles processed at a steam velocity of 1.5 m/s and at 125°C for 200 s, 130°C for 167 s, 135°C for 150 s, 140°C for 133 s, 150°C for 100 s, and a steam velocity of 1.0 m/s and 150°C for 133 s had acceptable color values (L* values greater than 63, a* values less than 0, and b* values above 20) and moisture at or below the safe storage limit. Superheated steam processed noodles were more firm and chewy than the commercial noodles. Adhesiveness, springiness, and resilience were generally the same for all noodle products. Breaking strength of superheated steam processed noodles was in the same range as the fried control and commercial products. Values varied from a low of 1121 ± 194 g/mm² for noodles processed at 150°C, 1.5 m/s, for 100 s to a high of 1575 ± 329 g/mm² for noodles processed at 140°C, 1.5 m/s, for 133 s. Starch gelatinization was greatest in the fried control samples and the least in the superheated steam processed samples (approximately 9% less).     

Drying of Fish Press-Cake with Superheated Steam in a Pilot Plant Impingement System

Drying tests for pine sawdust and mackerel press-cake with hot air and with superheated steam were carried out in a pilot impingement cylindrical dryer. Wet particles move axially along the dryer, adjusting the inclination of the equipment, whereas hot gases circulate in cross-flow against the particles, forming a corotational impingement front. Feed rate and residence time of solids were studied experimentally as a function of dryer inclination for hot air and superheated steam as drying media. Drying rates and heat and mass transfer coefficients were found to increase at shorter residence times and higher gas temperatures. Dried mackerel press-cake with superheated steam resulted in a product with high moisture removal and very low losses of the valuable omega-3 fatty acids.     

Drying of Fish Press-Cake with Superheated Steam in a Pilot Plant Impingement System

Drying tests for pine sawdust and mackerel press-cake with hot air and with superheated steam were carried out in a pilot impingement cylindrical dryer. Wet particles move axially along the dryer, adjusting the inclination of the equipment, whereas hot gases circulate in cross-flow against the particles, forming a corotational impingement front. Feed rate and residence time of solids were studied experimentally as a function of dryer inclination for hot air and superheated steam as drying media. Drying rates and heat and mass transfer coefficients were found to increase at shorter residence times and higher gas temperatures. Dried mackerel press-cake with superheated steam resulted in a product with high moisture removal and very low losses of the valuable omega-3 fatty acids.     

Superheated Steam Drying of Single Wood Particles: Modeling and Comparative Study with Hot Air Drying

A deterministic model is developed to describe the superheated steam drying process of single wood particles. A comparison between calculated data and experimental observations infers that the moisture‐dependent effective diffusivity is suitable to be used for beechwood material drying. To reduce the computational cost of the deterministic drying model, a semi‐empirical model is proposed within the framework of a reaction engineering approach (REA). The validity of the proposed model is checked by comparing against experimental data from literature. The experimental drying behavior may fairly be reflected by the reduced model. Due to the simplicity and predictive ability of the REA model, this semi‐empirical model can be implemented to describe heat and mass transfer between a population of single particles and a drying agent in dryer models.     

Multiscale Modeling of Superheated Steam Drying of Particulate Materials

A multiscale model for predicting the superheated steam drying behavior of a packed bed filled with particulate porous material is presented. By using a reaction engineering approach (REA) a semi-empirical model is developed that can describe the heat and mass transfer between a single particle and the surrounding drying agent. By analogy between superheated steam drying and hot air drying, the relative activation energy of the REA model is formulated. Next, the single-particle drying model is fed into a continuum-scale model of a packed bed. The temperature and moisture content of the solid and the vapor temperature are successfully predicted by the bed-scale model. To endow the bed-scale model with predictive capabilities, simulation results are compared with experimental literature data.     

Drying Characteristics of Coriander Seed Particles in a Reduced Pressure Superheated Steam Fluidized Bed

Drying characteristics of coriander seed particles were experimentally analyzed in a reduced pressure superheated steam fluidized bed. The typical moisture gain, reported in some other studies during the warm-up period of the process, was reduced in most of the cases by supplying additional heat into the column. The experimental results demonstrated that the drying rate increases and the equilibrium moisture content decreases by increasing the operating temperature. However, variation of the operating pressure (40–67 kPa) and the superficial steam velocity (2.3–4.0 m/s) did not present significant effects on the moisture contents. The degree of superheating was found to be the most important parameter for the process. The experiments also showed that the equilibrium moisture content decreases upon increasing the degree of superheating. Finally, employing a reduced pressure superheated steam fluidized bed appears as an option to carry out drying processes at relatively lower temperatures.     

Drying of Pepper Seed Particles in a Superheated Steam Fluidized Bed Operating at Reduced Pressure

A series of drying experiments was performed in a reduced-pressure superheated steam fluidized bed, employing pepper seed particles and some novel data were obtained. Experiments were carried out using different chamber pressures (40–67 kPa), temperatures (90–122°C), steam velocities (2.35–4.10 m/s), and mass flow rates (0.0049–0.0134 kg/s). In the majority of the experiments, the moisture gain observed in some other studies in the warm-up period of the process was prevented through some supplementary heat provided to the column. The drying rate was found to be increasing by operating temperature; however, it was not affected much by the superficial gas velocity and the operating pressure. Nevertheless, the reduced pressure operation increases the degree of superheating that appears as the most important parameter of the process. The experimental results showed that the equilibrium moisture content decreases by the increasing degree of superheating. On the other hand, the critical moisture content assumes higher values for the greater degrees of superheating. It was concluded that a relatively lower temperature process can be achieved through a reduced-pressure superheated steam fluidized bed.