SIMULATION OF SUPERHEATED STEAM DRYING CONSIDERING INITIAL STEAM CONDENSATION

A heat and mass transfer model was proposed for the superheated steam drying, focusing on phenomena which occur during the initial stage of drying, i.e., condensation of superheated steam on material surfaces and subsequent shift from condensation to evaporation leading to the beginning of the actual drying (Reverse Process Model). Next, drying equations considering the reverse process were formulated for a shrinking/swelling infinite flat plate to calculate moisture content and temperature distributions in a material, changes in mass of a material with time, and a characteristic drying curve. Then, the influence of the initial thickness of a material and the heat transfer coefficient were investigated. In addition, calculation results were compared with experimental ones with regard to the change in mass of material with time and the characteristic drying curve, and good conformance was obtained for the initial stage of drying.     

SIMULATION OF SUPERHEATED STEAM DRYING CONSIDERING INITIAL STEAM CONDENSATION

A heat and mass transfer model was proposed for the superheated steam drying, focusing on phenomena which occur during the initial stage of drying, i.e., condensation of superheated steam on material surfaces and subsequent shift from condensation to evaporation leading to the beginning of the actual drying (Reverse Process Model). Next, drying equations considering the reverse process were formulated for a shrinking/swelling infinite flat plate to calculate moisture content and temperature distributions in a material, changes in mass of a material with time, and a characteristic drying curve. Then, the influence of the initial thickness of a material and the heat transfer coefficient were investigated. In addition, calculation results were compared with experimental ones with regard to the change in mass of material with time and the characteristic drying curve, and good conformance was obtained for the initial stage of drying.     

Effect of temperature and velocity of superheated steam on initial condensation of distillers’ spent grain pellets during drying

Initial condensation on the sample surface during superheated steam (SS) drying leads to increased sample moisture affecting its mechanical and thermal properties. A study was conducted to understand the effect of temperature and velocity of SS on the amount of initial condensation on distillers’ spent grain pellets with an initial moisture content of 25% (wet basis). These pellets were dried using SS at 120, 150, and 180°C with velocities 0.5, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 m/s. Separate experiments were conducted for recording mass and surface temperature of the pellets during SS drying. Mass recorded over the drying period was then compared with the predicted mass obtained by solving the standard heat balance and film condensation equations. The predicted values of mass flux due to initial condensation were in close agreement with directly measured values with a maximum mean square error of 0.20. There was a 60–64% decrease in the amount of initial condensation as the temperature of SS was increased from 120 to 180°C. The results indicate that the initial condensation can be minimal when the temperature of SS is equal or above 180°C with SS velocity equal or above 1 m/s using a preheated drying chamber.     

Study of Intermittent Low-Pressure Superheated Steam and Vacuum Drying of a Heat-Sensitive Material

Low-pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD) has recently been applied to drying of various heat-sensitive foods and bioproducts with success. Several studies have shown that the quality of LPSSD-dried products is superior to that obtained using conventional hot air or vacuum drying. However, drying time and energy consumption for LPSSD is generally greater than that for vacuum drying. Therefore, it is necessary to examine different methodologies to improve the energy efficiency of LPSSD. An intermittent drying scheme is one possible method to reduce the energy consumption of the process while maintaining the desired product quality. In this study, the effect of intermittent supply of energy (through an electric heater and steam injection to the dryer) and vacuum (through the use of a vacuum pump) at various intermittency values or on:off periods (10:5, 10:10 and 10:20 min in the case of intermittent supply of energy and 5:0, 5:5, and 5:10 min in the case of intermittent supply of vacuum) at the on-period setting temperatures of 70, 80, and 90°C on the drying kinetics and heat transfer behavior of the drying samples (banana chips) was studied. The effects of these intermittent drying schemes and conditions on the quality parameters of dried banana chips; i.e., color, shrinkage, texture, and ascorbic acid retention, were also studied. Finally, the energy consumption values for intermittent LPSSD and vacuum drying were monitored through the effective (or net) drying time at various intermittent drying conditions and compared with those using continuous LPSSD and vacuum drying.     

A Comparative Study of Low-Pressure Superheated Steam and Vacuum Drying of a Heat-Sensitive Material

Using carrot cubes as a model heat-sensitive material, experimental investigations were conducted to examine the drying kinetics and various quality parameters of the dried product undergoing both low-pressure superheated steam and vacuum drying. Effects of operating parameters such as pressure and temperature on the drying characteristics as well as quality attributes, i.e., volume, shrinkage, apparent density, color, and rehydration behavior, of the dried product underwent the two drying processes were also evaluated and compared. Although low-pressure steam drying required longer dwell time to achieve the same final moisture content than vacuum drying, some of the quality attributes were superior to those obtained in vacuum drying.     

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.     

A Comparative Study of Low-Pressure Superheated Steam and Vacuum Drying of a Heat-Sensitive Material

Abstract

Using carrot cubes as a model heat-sensitive material, experimental investigations were conducted to examine the drying kinetics and various quality parameters of the dried product undergoing both low-pressure superheated steam and vacuum drying. Effects of operating parameters such as pressure and temperature on the drying characteristics as well as quality attributes, i.e., volume, shrinkage, apparent density, color, and rehydration behavior, of the dried product underwent the two drying processes were also evaluated and compared. Although low-pressure steam drying required longer dwell time to achieve the same final moisture content than vacuum drying, some of the quality attributes were superior to those obtained in vacuum drying.     

IMPROVED HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER MODELS TO PREDICT GRAIN QUALITY

This paper reviews a recent development in the heat and moisture transfer modeling for drying single layes of agricultural grains. A diffusion model with time-varying boundary condition predicts the complex shape of the drying curve well. A conduction model with evaporating boundary condition, when used with the Gamson correlation for convective heat transfer coefficient, accurately predicts experimental grain surface temperature. The new modewls were tested experimentally, drying wheat and barley in a thin-layer dryer useing 40 to 175 c air and the initial moisture ranging from 0.20 to 0.40 (decimal dry basis). It is shown that grain temperatures calculated by the conduction heat equation, when used in conjunction with a probit-type germination loss model, predict germination values different from those predicted by the lump heat equation.     

IMPROVED HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER MODELS TO PREDICT GRAIN QUALITY

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews a recent development in the heat and moisture transfer modeling for drying single layes of agricultural grains. A diffusion model with time-varying boundary condition predicts the complex shape of the drying curve well. A conduction model with evaporating boundary condition, when used with the Gamson correlation for convective heat transfer coefficient, accurately predicts experimental grain surface temperature. The new modewls were tested experimentally, drying wheat and barley in a thin-layer dryer useing 40 to 175 c air and the initial moisture ranging from 0.20 to 0.40 (decimal dry basis). It is shown that grain temperatures calculated by the conduction heat equation, when used in conjunction with a probit-type germination loss model, predict germination values different from those predicted by the lump heat equation.     

Dynamic modeling of the steam supply system for a paper drying cylinder

A dynamic model describing the principles of a steam supply system for a paper drying cylinder used in paper production plants was developed based on the mass and heat balances around the cylinder. The balance equations consist of sets of differential equations describing heat and mass transfer around the canvas, the web and the drying cylinder. The effects of the steam valve adjustment on steam pressure, temperature and moisture content were investigated based on the model developed. It was found that application of simple model predictive control to the operation of steam supply system is enough to achieve satisfactory drying performance in a single paper drying cylinder.     

Multiphase modeling of intermittent drying using the spatial reaction engineering approach (S-REA)

Several schemes of energy minimization of drying process including intermittent drying have been attempted. Intermittent drying is conducted by applying different heat inputs in each drying period. An effective and physically meaningful drying model is useful for process design and product technology. The lumped reaction engineering approach (L-REA) has been shown previously to be accurate to model the intermittent drying In L-REA, the REA (reaction engineering approach) is used to describe the global drying rate. In this study, the REA is used to model the local evaporation/condensation rate and combined with the mechanistic drying models to yield the spatial reaction engineering approach (S-REA), a non-equilibrium multiphase drying model. The accuracy of the S-REA to model the intermittent drying under time-varying drying air temperature is evaluated here. In order to incorporate the effect of time-varying drying air temperature, the equilibrium activation energy and boundary condition of heat balance implement the corresponding drying settings in each drying period. The results of modeling using the S-REA match well with the experimental data. The S-REA can yield the spatial profiles of moisture content, concentration of water vapor, temperature and local evaporation/condensation rate so that better understanding of transport phenomena of intermittent drying can be obtained. It is argued here that the REA can describe the local evaporation rate under time-varying external conditions well. The S-REA is an effective non-equilibrium multiphase approach for modeling of intermittent drying process.     

Experimental and Numerical Study of Flat Plate Sludge Drying at Low Temperature by Convection and Direct Conduction

This article deals with the drying of the waste by-product of an activated sludge manure treatment plant. The studies concern the low temperature drying of planar plates 3 cm thick. The upper face of the sludge is subjected to a tangential air flow controlled for speed, temperature, and humidity. The lower face can be subjected to contact heating. The maximum temperature for air and the bottom of the product is 60 °C. After characterizing the main thermophysical and hygric properties of the product, the laboratory set-up specifically designed for this study is described. Experiments are performed to determine temperature, mass loss, and deformation evolutions for different boundary conditions. These experimental data are used to build a numerical one-dimensional heat and mass transfer model to predict temperature and moisture content fields. Sludge is assimilated with a hygroscopic porous medium, and shrinkage is not taken into account. To validate this model, several comparisons between simulated and measured data are made for different drying methods (hot or fresh air convective drying, contact drying, and combined drying) and various drying conditions.     

Modeling coupled transport phenomena and mechanical deformation of shrimp during drying in a jet spouted bed dryer

Heat and mass transfer in highly shrinkable and irregular-shape biomaterials such as shrimp during convective drying represents a complicated phenomenon since it is important to consider not only the transport phenomena occurring during drying but also the various changes of the drying materials. In order to describe drying of biomaterials adequately, a mathematical model that considers both of the above-mentioned aspects is needed. In this study, the formulation and validation of a mathematical model describing coupled transport phenomena and mechanical deformation of shrimp undergoing drying in a representative convective dryer, i.e., a jet spouted bed dryer, was conducted. The model consists of coupled heat conduction and mass diffusion equations along with the elastic solid mechanics equations. Governing equations and initial as well as boundary conditions were solved numerically using a finite element method via software (version 3.3a). The simulated results, in terms of the shrimp moisture content, mid-layer temperature and shrinkage, were compared with the experimental results also obtained in this study and good agreement between the theoretical simulation and experimental results was observed in general. The model was also used to predict the principal stress distributions within shrimp during drying. Moreover, the effect of including deformation in the model was also illustrated by comparing the simulated results with those obtained from the model assuming no deformation.     

Modeling of Moisture and Temperature Changes of Wheat during Drying in a Triangular Spouted Bed Dryer

A mathematical model of temperature and wheat moisture content distribution inside a triangular spouted bed dryer was developed. The model is based on analysis of heat and mass transfer inside the dryer. In addition to that, an empirical bulk density model has been developed for wheat and included in the drying simulation. A laboratory-scale triangular spouted bed (TSB) dryer was used to dry wheat grain to validate the model. The dryer was divided into three sections, namely spouting, downcomer, and fountain. A series of drying runs were conducted to record moisture and temperature profile. There were two distinct regions observed during wheat drying. A constant rate period was observed during the initial drying stage and the falling rate period took place at the later drying stage. Initial moisture content and operating drying temperature governed the timing of transition from constant rate period to falling rate period. The model can be used to accurately predict the moisture content of wheat during drying. The temperature prediction inside the TSB dryer was less accurate, especially at high temperatures due to heat losses in the experimental dryer. Further studies are needed to improve the accuracy of this model, especially with regard to the temperature prediction.     

Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Prepared by Different Drying Methods and Conditions

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban has attracted significant research and commercial interest due to its many health-promoting bioactive compounds, especially phenolic compounds and triterpene saponins, which possess several functional capacities, including antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity. Prior to its use, however, C. asiatica usually needs to be dried to extend its storage life and to prepare the material for subsequent pharmaceutical processing. The present study investigated the effects of selected drying methods and temperature on the drying characteristics, phenolic compounds, triterpene saponins, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial activity of dried C. asiatica. Hot-air drying (HAD), combined infrared–hot air drying (IR-HAD), and low-pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD) were carried out at various temperatures (50, 60, 70°C). The results showed that higher drying temperatures led to higher drying rates but to lower levels of total phenolic compounds, total triterpene saponins, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial activity. At the same drying temperature, IR-HAD resulted in the highest drying rates; this was followed by LPSSD and HAD in a descending order. Nevertheless, LPSSD resulted in the highest levels of the tested bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, as well as antimicrobial activity. LPSSD at 50°C yielded dried C. asiatica of the best overall quality.     

Modeling of Moisture and Temperature Changes of Wheat during Drying in a Triangular Spouted Bed Dryer

A mathematical model of temperature and wheat moisture content distribution inside a triangular spouted bed dryer was developed. The model is based on analysis of heat and mass transfer inside the dryer. In addition to that, an empirical bulk density model has been developed for wheat and included in the drying simulation. A laboratory-scale triangular spouted bed (TSB) dryer was used to dry wheat grain to validate the model. The dryer was divided into three sections, namely spouting, downcomer, and fountain. A series of drying runs were conducted to record moisture and temperature profile. There were two distinct regions observed during wheat drying. A constant rate period was observed during the initial drying stage and the falling rate period took place at the later drying stage. Initial moisture content and operating drying temperature governed the timing of transition from constant rate period to falling rate period. The model can be used to accurately predict the moisture content of wheat during drying. The temperature prediction inside the TSB dryer was less accurate, especially at high temperatures due to heat losses in the experimental dryer. Further studies are needed to improve the accuracy of this model, especially with regard to the temperature prediction.     

Simulation of Superheated Steam Drying from Coupling Models

Modeling of the transfer between a porous medium and its surroundings is commonly made using transfer coefficients that are theoretically well known only under boundary layer hypothesis. The resolution of Navier-Stokes equations in the surroundings of the product in order to get information about the boundary conditions avoids the classical use of these transfer coefficients. In this article, a modeling and a simulation of superheated steam drying of a rectangular piece of porous medium is proposed using a coupling method between a porous medium code and a CFD software. In some cases of superheated steam drying, even if a thermal boundary layer exists, a mass boundary layer cannot be defined. Moreover, boiling occurs during the process. An analysis of the interfacial transfer coupled with the analysis of the temperature, moisture content, and pressure profiles inside the porous medium is proposed.     

A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR PARALLEL FLOW DRYER FOR SLABS WITH HIGH THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY

An analytical model for the process is developed. The thermal diffusivity of the drying slabs is assumed infinite and the moisture diffusivity constant during the entire drying process.

With specified initial and boundary conditions, the mathematical model yields a two-part solution for the diffusion equation. The first part is valid for the initial drying during which the surface moisture content exceeds the value of fiber saturation. This part of the solution is used until the surface moisture content drops to the fiber saturation value. The moisture profile at the end of this period is used as the initial condition for the second period of drying which takes place under hygroscopic conditions.

Two simplifying assumptions are adapted for the hygroscopic region: 1. The dependence between the surface temperature and the moisture content is linear. 2. Constant (average) absorption heat is used during this second drying period.

For both parts of the solution, the surface moisture gradient is proportional to the local temperature difference between the drying air and the slab surface. This temperature difference can be expressed by means of a water mass balance equation for the part of the dryer between the slab in-feed and the point considered and by using the thermodynamic properties of the humid air.     

Simulation of Superheated Steam Drying from Coupling Models

Modeling of the transfer between a porous medium and its surroundings is commonly made using transfer coefficients that are theoretically well known only under boundary layer hypothesis. The resolution of Navier–Stokes equations in the surroundings of the product in order to get information about the boundary conditions avoids the classical use of these transfer coefficients. In this article, a modeling and a simulation of superheated steam drying of a rectangular piece of porous medium is proposed using a coupling method between a porous medium code and a CFD software. In some cases of superheated steam drying, even if a thermal boundary layer exists, a mass boundary layer cannot be defined. Moreover, boiling occurs during the process. An analysis of the interfacial transfer coupled with the analysis of the temperature, moisture content, and pressure profiles inside the porous medium is proposed.     

Finite Element Analysis of a Moving Boundary Value Problem

A finite element formulation and the solution of a set of nonlinear coupled heat and mass transfer equations for a two-phase system with a moving evaporation interface is presented. The interface condition takes into account the moisture transfer balance at the moving boundary. The finite element results were compared with existing results for a single phase system for model validation. In the two-phase system, the movement of evaporation front has an appreciable effect on the temperature and moisture distribution inside the porous medium during drying. The effect of the nondimensional heat of vapourization parameter γ on the evaporation front, temperature and moisture distribution in porous medium was studied. The higher the value of γ, the slower is the movement of the evaporation front. The temperature decreased and the moisture content increased as the nondimensional vapourization parameter γ increased. This model has potential applications in studying the heat and mass transfer characteristics in food and biomaterials.