SNIPPET ON DRYING

ABSTRACT

When regarding the atmospheric contact drying of granular beds wetted with a liquid mixture, both the drying rate and the selectivity of the process, i.e. the change of moisture composition, are of interest. The batch drying of a free flowing ceramic substance, wetted with a 2-propanol-water mixture, is investigated in a rotary dryer with heated wall and air flow.

The theoretical analysis is based on physical models for heat and mass transfer, moisture migration and particle transport, which are presented in examples.

The experimental and theoretical results show that higher selectivities can be achieved by reducing the particle size because of the lower liquid-phase mass-transfer resistance. An increase of the rotational speed leads to a higher drying rate with slightly decreased selectivity if the particles are sufficiently small, since contact heat transfer is enhanced.     

MODELLING OF WET-BULB WETTED WITH BINARY MIXTURE

Removal of multicomponent moisture is a frequent problem in pharmaceutical and related industries. To control the process temperature of the solid and individual drying rates must be known. For nonporous (crystalline) solids of small size the problem may be reduced to simulation of a wet-bulb wetted with multi-component moisture. In the paper a simple model of the process was presented and tested using the wet-bulb of a commercial Assmann psychrometer as a test solid. Dynamics of temperature change of such wet-bulb wetted with a binary mixture of ethanol and water was measured and compared with those predicted by the model. Satisfactory agreement of the model predictions with the experiment was found.     

DRYING OF GRANULAR PARTICLES IN A MULTISTAGE INCLINED FLUIDIZED BED WITH MECHANICAL VIBRATION

A mathematical model for the drying rate of granular particles in a multistage inclined fluidized bed(IFB) is presented from the standpoint of simultaneous heat and mass transfer, with taking the effect of mechanical vibration added vertically into consideration.

Steady-state distributions for the temperatures and concentrations of the particles and the heating gas, and for the moisture content of the particles are numerically calculated based on the present model. The calculated results show fairly good agreement with the experimental data, which were obtained from the drying experiments of brick particles in a three-stage IFB using comparatively low temperature air(40-60°C) as the heating gas.

It has been found within the range of the experimental conditions employed that, the mechanical vibration added vertically enhances the over-all drying rate of the particles and its effect can be considered equivalent to an increase in the air velocity.     

PHOTOVOLTAIC DRYER WITH DUAL PACKED BEDS FOR DRYING MEDICAL HERB

Abstract

This work presents design and optimization of a cylindrical photovoltaic dryer with dual packed beds thermal energy storage for drying medical herb. The dryer is provided with electrical heater where the electrical energy is generated by using photovoltaic system. The electrical heater is designed and sized to realize continuouse drying (day and night) to minimize the drying time. Two packed beds are used to fix the drying temperature in dryer during day and night. The main packed bed thermal energy storage is charged during the sun-hours directly, to realize continued drying after sunset. An efficient PV dryer is devised to work under forced air created by air blower and heated by the electrical coils.     

SIMULATION OF FORESTRY BIOMASS DRYING IN A ROTARY DRYER

ABSTRACT

Drying of forestry biomass in a rotary dryer has been performed. The raw material used was Erica Arborea belonging to the ever-green, broad leaves ecosystem which covers Central Greece and other Mediterranean countries. The study was part of a project concerning a Greek biomass pyrolysis demonstration plant where drying of biomass is very important in the contribution to the global energy balance and product yields of pyrolysis.

The study includes two parts. First, the experimental part concerns the influence of air flowrate, temperature, rotation speed and inclination of a laboratory rotary dryer to biomass residence time and biomass outlet moisture content. The second part concerns the development of a mathematical model for biomass drying in a rotary dryer. Experimental measurements in a rotary dryer were compared to the data from the model, in order to check the validity of the model.     

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING AND APPARATUS ARRANGEMENTS OF DEEP DRYING PROCESS OF GRANULAR POLYMERS

ABSTRACT

A computer - aided analysis is made of the factors influencing the kinetics of the continuous deep drying of granular polymers on the basis of a two-level mathematical model. In terms of the lower (microkinetic) level, which deals with the drying of separate granules, consideration is given to the accuracy of determining the moisture diffusion coefficients in polymers as functions of temperature and concentration D=f(U,t). The expedience of employing the solution of linear and non-linear differential diffusion equations in microkinetic calculations is also considered. In terms of the macrokinetic level, which takes account of the influence of the hydrodynamic and heat-and-mass transfer drying conditions in the dryer, a numerical study is undertaken of how the kinetics is influenced by the granules’ dimension nonuniformity and by the difference in the granules’ residence time in the dryer. The results are graphically presented in generalised variables. The travel of 12 granular polymers in the shaft (column) dryers is experimentally studied depending on definite determining parameters. Accordingly, some recommendations aimed at ensuring the uniform drying are given. Presented are also the experimental results on the longitudinal mixing for different polymers for a continuous shaft dryer with a ring material layer and with the drying agent performing the radial motion. The findings make it possible to determine the mixing rate and to outline some practical recommendations. The investigations carried out allow one to find the rational construction of the dryer for the deep drying of granular polymers and to refine the kinetic calculations.     

DRYING GRANULAR POROUS MEDIA: GRAVITATIONAL EFFECTS IN THE ISENTHALPIC REGIME AND THE ROLE OF DIFFUSION MODELS

In this paper we have examined the influence of gravity on the moisture transport process during the isenthalpic drying period, and we have considered the use of diffusion models both to predict saturation pro- files and to extract apparent diffusivities from experi- mental data. For granular or unconsolidated porous media, the one-dimensional moisture transport process can be characterized by two dimensionless groups that account for capillary forces, gravitational forces and viscous forces. Detailed numerical solutions of the saturation transport equation indicate under what circumstances the diffusion model can be used with confidence, and under what circumstances the diffusion model can be used to predict saturation profiles even though it is an incorrect representation of the moisture transport process. In addition to exploring the predictive capabilities of the diffusion model, we have     

OPTIMIZATION OF DRYING SCHEDULES ADAPTED FOR A MIXTURE OF BOARDS WITH DISTRIBUTION OF SAPWOOD AND HEARTWOOD

ABSTRACT

A distributed optimization model for wood drying with several different boards simultaneously is presented. Optimization is performed with a gradient-based program. During optimization, convex subproblems are created and transformed to the dual problem and solved. Arbitrary outtakes and board dimensions are possible, as well as different material data and distribution of sapwood and heartwood. It is also possible to optimize drying schedules where drying of boards with variations in environmental conditions is simulated. A two-dimensional orthotropic drying model is used in the moisture transport and structural analysis, where the variation in radial and tangential directions are considered. The influence of temperature and moisture content on material data and mechanical properties is also taken into account. The drying schedules achieved are optimized to minimize drying time for a representative mixture of boards. A numerical example is presented where the drying schedule is optimized for two boards with different outtakes and distributions of sapwood and heartwood. Optimization is performed with two computers in a network. Drying starts from the fibre saturation point in these simulations.     

振动重介质流化床细粒焦渣混合物的分选

在间歇振动流化床中研究了细粒焦渣混合物的分离．通过考察细粒焦、细粒渣及细粒焦渣混合物的入选体积量对床层密度和分选效率的影响,得出适宜的操作条件．在此条件下对细粒焦渣混合物进行了分选实验,得到了较佳的分离效率。     

DRYING KINETICS OF A MULTICOMPONENT MIXTURE OF ORGANIC SOLVENTS

ABSTRACT

Drying kinetics of volatile organic solvents have been examined during the drying process of a pharmaceutical coating containing a multicomponent mixture of ethyl acetate, n-heptane, propanol-2, and toluene. A complete set of experiments was performed in two drying apparatuses, a laboratory air-dryer and an oven dryer, for a wide range of drying temperature, air velocity, initial coating thickness and drying time. An empirical kinetic model is used to predict the concentration of each organic solvent in the mixture during the drying process. The results show that both drying conditions and sample characteristics affect significantly the drying rate of solvents.     

OPTIMIZATION OF DRYING SCHEDULES ADAPTED FOR A MIXTURE OF BOARDS WITH DISTRIBUTION OF SAPWOOD AND HEARTWOOD

A distributed optimization model for wood drying with several different boards simultaneously is presented. Optimization is performed with a gradient-based program. During optimization, convex subproblems are created and transformed to the dual problem and solved. Arbitrary outtakes and board dimensions are possible, as well as different material data and distribution of sapwood and heartwood. It is also possible to optimize drying schedules where drying of boards with variations in environmental conditions is simulated. A two-dimensional orthotropic drying model is used in the moisture transport and structural analysis, where the variation in radial and tangential directions are considered. The influence of temperature and moisture content on material data and mechanical properties is also taken into account. The drying schedules achieved are optimized to minimize drying time for a representative mixture of boards. A numerical example is presented where the drying schedule is optimized for two boards with different outtakes and distributions of sapwood and heartwood. Optimization is performed with two computers in a network. Drying starts from the fibre saturation point in these simulations.     

BATCH DRYING OF SHELLED CORN IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL SPOUTED BEDS WITH DRAFT PLATES

ABSTRACT

Geometrically similar spouted beds with draft plates were used to obtain the drying characteristics of freshly harvested shelled corn with 0.28 to 0.31 kg/kg initial moisture content at different air inlet temperatures and bed heights. Thermal equilibrium between air and grains was achieved at minimum spouting conditions. The drying kinetics of shelled corn in a drafted two-dimensional spouted bed was found to be of the "thin layer" type. Expressions for the model parameters in Page's equation accounting for the bed geometry, grain moisture content, and drying conditions were developed.     

EFFECT OF DRYING ON FLUIDISATION BEHAVIOUR OF PACKED BEDS OF SHREDDED COCONUT

Drying of shredded coconut is usually carried out commercially in order to facilitate storage over reasonable periods of time and to obtain advantages of reduction of weight and volume in transport and packaging. Fluidised bed drying of materials is generally accepted to be an efficient method of drying. Experiments were carried out to investigate the behaviour of fluidisation of shreddet coconut at various moisture contents. The pressure drop was measured across random packings of shredded coconut. It is seen that shredded coconut does not fluidise easily at moisture contents greater than 0.55 (55 weight percent moisture). It is also seen that fluidisation can be easily achieved by drying shredded coconut to moisture contents between approximately 0.25 to 0.55. The pressure drop characteristics within this region is seen to closely resemble the theoretical behaviour of a fluidised bed. It is also seen that particles of shredded coconut in beds of moisture contents less than 0.25 tend to undergo pneumatic transport if efforts are made to fluidise such beds.     

DRYING OF GRANULAR MATERIALS IN AN INCLINED VIBRATED FLUIDIZED BED BY COMBINED RADIATIVE AND ONVECTIVE HEATING

In an inclined-vibrated fluidized bed (IVF-bed), solid particles are fluidized easily at a relatively low air velocity. Good mixing of the fluidized particles in the direction of the air flow and the renewal of the bed surface take place as a result of the vibration effect. Accordingly when the bed surface is heated by thermal radiation from the top surface, radiant heat is absorbed more effectively on the surface than on a stagnant bed surface. This characteristic of an IVF-bed indicates the applicability to a solar dryer and other similar dryers.

The present study reports the result of model experiments carried out to confirm the effectiveness of radiative heating on drying of wet granular materials. Further, for quantitative evaluation of the radiation effect, a theoretical model is offered and its validity is examined.     

THE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A SYSTEM MODEL FOR A COUNTERCURRENT CASCADING ROTARY DRYER

ABSTRACT

An overall system model for a countercurrent rotary dryer has been developed with the ullimale aim of assessing controller pairings in these dryers. This model is based on heat and mass balances within dryer regions combined with two subsidiary models, one describing the equipment (which determines particle transport and heat transfer)and the other describing the behaviour of the material (the drying kinetics). Six partial differential equations have been set up to evaluate six state variables: solids moisture content, solids temperature, gas humidity, gas temperature, solids holdup and gas holdup as functions of time and rotary dryer length. A control-volume method has been used to reduce the six partial differential equations with respect to time and the length of the rotary dryer to six ordinary differential equations in time.

The drying model has been implemented in the SPEEDUP flowsheeting package (with FORTRAN subroutines) The model has been validated by fifteen experiments-in a pilot scale countercurrent-flow rotary dryer (0.2m in diameter and 2m in length)     

DRYING OF SUGAR BEET FIBER WITH HOT AIR OR SUPERHEATED STEAM

A comparative study of drying thin layers of sugar beet fiber with hot air or with superheated steam in a specially designed pilot dryer is reported. Our present interests are focused on drying rate and on the quality of the dried product. Steam superheated at 130-150°C yields 90 % of dry matter (DM), however steam condensation on the cold product at the beginning of the process may penalize the drying time. The color of the fiber is not modified until reaching 80 % DM. Drying with air heated at temperatures lying in the 40 to 105°C range does not alter the white color up to 90 % DM. The water retention capacity of the original fiber, 14 g water/g DM remains unchanged whatever drying agent is used. The scaling up of the primary hot air drying set up to a ten times larger experimental dryer introduce no modification of drying time, water retention capacity or fiber color. Thick layer drying experiments permit to define parameters of a belt dryer for an industrial fiber processing plant.     

SIZE SELECTION OF VACUUM CONTACT DRYER WITH MECHANICALLY MIXED PARTICULATE MATERIAL

The paper presents methods of modelling and simulation of vacuum contact drying. The selection of dryer size is discussed on the basis of experimental results and theory. Use of the thermal conductivity of the bed as a parameter of the model is proposed.     

NATURAL CONVECTION OF A BINARY MIXTURE IN A VERTICAL CLOSED ANNULUS

This article reports an analytical and numerical study of natural convection of a binary mixture within a vertical closed annulus. Neumann boundary conditions for temperature are applied to the vertical walls of the enclosure, while the short walls are insulated. The solutal buoyancy forces are assumed to be induced either by the imposition of constant fluxes of mass on the vertical walls (double-diffusive convection, a = 0) or by temperature gradients (Soret effect, a = 1). The governing parameters for the problem are the thermal Rayleigh number R_T, Prandtl number Pr, Lewis number Le, buoyancy ratio ϕ, aspect ratio A, constant a, and curvature parameter η. An analytical solution, based on the assumption of parallel flow over a large portion of enclosure, is derived. Numerical confirmation of the analytical results is also presented.     

NATURAL CONVECTION OF A BINARY MIXTURE IN A VERTICAL CLOSED ANNULUS

This article reports an analytical and numerical study of natural convection of a binary mixture within a vertical closed annulus. Neumann boundary conditions for temperature are applied to the vertical walls of the enclosure, while the short walls are insulated. The solutal buoyancy forces are assumed to be induced either by the imposition of constant fluxes of mass on the vertical walls (double-diffusive convection, a = 0) or by temperature gradients (Soret effect, a = 1). The governing parameters for the problem are the thermal Rayleigh number R_T, Prandtl number Pr, Lewis number Le, buoyancy ratio ?, aspect ratio A, constant a, and curvature parameter η. An analytical solution, based on the assumption of parallel flow over a large portion of enclosure, is derived. Numerical confirmation of the analytical results is also presented.     

STATISTICAL THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS ON THE SORPTION SELECTIVITY FOR A BINARY LIQUID MIXTURE ON THE SOLID SURFACE

The nonideal concentration dependent sorption selectivity for the liquid-solid interface was analyzed by introducing the admolecular interaction in the statistical thermodynamic approach. The quasi-chemical and Bragg-Williams approximations together with the maximum term condition result in the desired expression for the adsorption isotherm. Experiments were carried out for the adsorption of the binary (xylene/toluene) mixture on the Y-zeolite as a nonideal system. The derived isotherms were correlated with both the ideal system reported by Sircar and Myers and the present nonideal adsorption data.