Investigation on the Effect of Condensing Moisture before Heating Air on the Performance of a Batch Tray Dryer: Application to the Drying of Vanilla

This article presents the results of an investigation of the effect of pre-dehumidifying the drying air before it is heated and supplied into a batch tray dryer. Dehumidification is achieved through moisture condensation as the air flowing through a coil is cooled by chilled water from a cold source. As an example, this process is applied to the drying of vanilla and is based on a numerical method already validated by former results. Then, it is established through comparisons with a conventional batch tray dryer model that pre-dehumidification significantly reduces drying time. Furthermore, preheating air by an intermediate heating source reduces total energy consumption of the primary heating system to a level depending on the preset drying temperature. As regards batch tray dryer design and optimization purposes, these results open up particularly interesting heating and cooling sources utilization prospects.     

Investigation on the Effect of Condensing Moisture before Heating Air on the Performance of a Batch Tray Dryer: Application to the Drying of Vanilla

This article presents the results of an investigation of the effect of pre-dehumidifying the drying air before it is heated and supplied into a batch tray dryer. Dehumidification is achieved through moisture condensation as the air flowing through a coil is cooled by chilled water from a cold source. As an example, this process is applied to the drying of vanilla and is based on a numerical method already validated by former results. Then, it is established through comparisons with a conventional batch tray dryer model that pre-dehumidification significantly reduces drying time. Furthermore, preheating air by an intermediate heating source reduces total energy consumption of the primary heating system to a level depending on the preset drying temperature. As regards batch tray dryer design and optimization purposes, these results open up particularly interesting heating and cooling sources utilization prospects.     

THE STUDY OF INTERRUPTED DRYING TECHNIQUE FOR ROUGH RICE

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the optimum strategy of the interrupted drying technique for rough rice. The effects of interrupted drying on drying rates, cracking enhancement ratios, and the performance of a commercial circulating rice dryer were evaluated. The results indicated that the required interrupted period of grains with moisture of ranging from 18 to 20% was 2 around 3 hours. The interrupted drying technique can significantly increase the drying rate. The dryer performance e.g. fuel-consumption rate, drying rate, and drying time were all affected by interrupting the drying process, as expected.     

OPTIMIZATION OF OPERATING CONDITIONS IN TUNNEL DRYING OF FOOD

ABSTRACT

Food drying process in tunnel dryer was modeled from Keey's drying model and experimental drying curve, and optimized in operating conditions consisting of inlet air temperature, air recycle ratio and air flow rate. Radish was chosen as a typical food material to be dried, because it has a typical drying characteristics of food and quality indexes of ascorbic acid destruction and browning in the drying. Stricter quality retention constraint required higher energy consumption in minimizing the objective function of energy consumption under constraints of dried food quality. Optimization results of cocurrent and counter current tunnel drying showed higher inlet air temperature, lower recycle ratio and higher air flow rate with shorter total drying time. Compared with cocurrent operation counter current drying used lower air temperature, lower recycle ratio and lower air flow rate, and appeared to be more efficient in energy usage. Most of consumed energy was analyzed to be used for air heating and then escape from the dryer in form of exhaust air.     

Performance evaluation of parabolic greenhouse-type solar dryer used for drying of cayenne pepper

Abstract

This study examines the performance of a parabolic greenhouse-type solar dryer used for drying of cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum) in Nan (northern Thailand). The dryer has a base area of 6.0?m × 8.2?m and a height of 3.25?m with the loading capacity of 100–200?kg for fruit or vegetables. It has a parabolic roof structure covered with polycarbonate sheets and is placed on a concrete floor. It is ventilated by three DC fans powered by a 50-Watt solar cell module. The produce is placed on trays with wire mesh base and located on steel supports. Among the advantages of this type of dryer is that the product is protected from rain, dust and insects. The pepper samples consisted of whole pods or cut pods. The drying experiments were carried out in the solar dryer and in an electrical (convective) tray dryer. The study was focusing on drying kinetics and on the effects of the drying treatments on one of the main quality attributes namely the capsaicin content in the dried products.     

MOBILE FLUIDIZED BED PADDY DRYER

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this research are to design, construct and test a mobile fluidized bed paddy dryer with a drying capacity of 2.5-4.0 t/h. Suitable drying conditions are recommended as follows : drying capacity 3.8 t/h, bed velocity 2.8 m/s, average drying air temperature 144 °C, bed height 13.5 cm, fraction of air recycled 0.8. Residence time of paddy was approximately 1.3 minutes. Test results showed that moisture content of paddy was reduced from 32.6 % dry-basis to 25.8 % dry-basis. Consumption of electrical power and diesel fuel was 12.9 kW and 21.71 1/h respectively. Primary energy consumption was 910.9 MJ/h. The dryer could evaporate water 218.8 kg/h. Specific primary energy consumption was 4.2 MJ/kg-water evaporated. Cost of paddy drying was 1.48 baht/kg-water evaporated of which 0.53 was fixed cost and 0.95 was energy cost (US$1 =34baht).     

Evaluating a Solar Dryer for In-Shell Drying of Split Pistachio Nuts

Abstract

A thin-layer forced air solar dryer was designed to study the feasibility of drying pistachio nuts. The dryer was tested during the 2001 and 2002 drying seasons. The maximum temperature in the solar collector reached 56°C, which was 20°C above the ambient temperature. The required drying time was 36 h. During the first day of drying (0800 to 1700 h) the moisture content dropped to about 21% (wb). The final moisture content of the dried nuts was 6% wb, which was 1% below the recommended storage moisture. The drying constant of the pistachio nuts during solar drying was determined using two mathematical models, a one-term series solution of Fick's diffusion equation and an exponential decaying model. There was no significant difference between the two models (α = 0.05). In general, the quality of solar dried nuts was better than the conventional heated air due to slower drying rates.     

DRYING OF WOOD BIOMASS AT HIGH PRESSURE STEAM ATMOSPHERE; EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH AND APPLICATION

ABSTRACT

Imatran Voima Oy together with Technical Research Centre of Finland has carried out experimental research on fuel drying at high pressure steam atmosphere. The pilot dryer is a pressurized flash dryer. Since its commissioning in 1991, the dryer has been used for drying experiments of peat and wood biomass for about 1000 h. The dryer operates at 23 bar pressure steam atmosphere with capacity of abt. 1000 kg/h of wet feedstock.

The developed high pressure steam dryer is planned to be used in a power plant process suitable for wet fuels as peat, biomass, and brown coal. The process is based on the connection of a pressurized fuel dryer, a pressurized gasifier, and a gas turbine. The integration of the high pressure steam dryer to the process increases the power generating efficiency of the process essentially.     

THIN LAYER AND DEEP BED DRYING OF LONG GRAIN ROUGH RICE

ABSTRACT

The paper presents new data for thin-layer drying characteristics of Thai long grain rough rice measured under various conditions of drying air temperature (35 to 60?°C), drying air relative humidity (30 to 70 % ) and the initial moisture content of rough rice (20 to 40 % dry basis). Empirical equations were developed using the instantaneous weight, the weight loss and drying time, with temperature, relative humidity and initial moisture content of rough rice as the independent variables. A computer program was developed to simulate the deep-bed drying process. The thin-layer drying equation developed before was used in the computer simulation. Experimental data from the fixed bed dryer were compared with the results from the calculation.     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SORPTION ISOTHERMS AND DRYING KINETICS OF MOROCCAN EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS

ABSTRACT

The paper deals with sorption isotherms and drying kinetics of Eucalyptus globulus. The sorption isotherms have been determined using a static gravimetric method and then fitted by GAB equation at T = 30, 40, and 50°C over a range of relative humidity from 0.05 to 0.9. The drying kinetics in a solar dryer with an auxiliary heating system are determined. The results show with good reproducibility that temperature is the main factor in controlling the drying rate. The drying rate equation is determined empirically from the characteristic curve of drying.     

Direct thermal drying of sludge using flue gas and its environmental benefits

This paper reported a sludge disposal technology that uses 100–200°C flue gas to dry sludge through a systematic analysis of the relationship between sludge drying rate/temperature and moisture content. Using this direct drying technology, the sludge drying capacity for the dryer tested can reach 86?tons?d^?1 at 160°C. The experimental results show this technology can also preserve 95% calorific value in the sludge, and remove 16–42% PM_2.5, 26–55% PM₁₀, and 7–25% SO₂ from the flue gas. The exhaust gas from the sludge dryer consists mainly of chain alkanes while benzenes only 9.65% when dried at 100°C.     

FLASH DRYING OF FISH MEALS WITH SUPERHEATED STEAM: ISOTHERMAL PROCESS

ABSTRACT

The work considers the application of the flash drying to the moisture removal of fishmeal using superheated steam as transport medium. Heat, momentum and mass transfer equations were applied and an algorithm based on these equations was developed and solved. The model was validated using experimental data obtained in a pilot pneumatic dryer ( total length 60 m) provided with a steam jacket to maintain the superheated steam at a constant temperature. The drying time was less than 10 s to decrease the fish meals moisture content from 53.5% to 28% d.b. and in a second pass by the dryer the moisture down to 16.9% using superheated steam at It 1 ° C and 130 ° C in the jacket. The computational results are in agreement with the experimental data.     

DRYING OF PULP AND PAPER SLUDGE IN A PULSED FLUID BED DRYER

ABSTRACT

Hydrodynamics and drying kinetics for the pulp and paper primary sludge dried in a pulsed fluid bed dryer with relocated air stream are presented. Batch experiments have indicated that drying of disintegrated sludge to the required 12% moisture content takes place during the first drying period at practically constant material temperature close to the wet bulb temperature with respect to the inlet air conditions. Equations were developed for pressure drop, minimum pulsed-fluidization velocity, dynamic bed height, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient. Continuous experiments under drying conditions determined from the average residence time concept have confirmed that transportation of disintegrated sludge along the dryer follows the plug flow model.

     

SCALE-UP OF CONTACT DRYERS

ABSTRACT

The scale-up of contact dryers is still based on experimental drying curves. In order to keep the effort to a minimum the drying curve is determined using a small laboratory or pilot dryer of similar geometry to the production dryer.

This paper introduces a new scale -up method for contact dryers. The new scale-up method is based on the assumption that heat transfer is the controlling mechanism. The scale-up method is derived from the material balance, the energy balance, the kinetic equation of heat transfer and thermodynamic equilibrium. The scale up method can be used to convert the drying time required to achieve a certain residual moisture content from the laboratory or pilot dryer to the production dryer and/or different drying conditions.

The scale-up method was verified by drying test with four different products in conical mixer dryers of 1, 60, 250, 1000 I volume. Two products were free flowing and two products were non free flowing in the wet state. The products can be considered non-hygroscopic in the moisture range investigated.     

Drying Kinetics and Quality of Shrimp Undergoing Different Two-Stage Drying Processes

Abstract

An innovative two-stage drying concept is presented in this article. The work considered drying of shrimp using a superheated steam dryer followed by a heat pump (SSD/HPD) or a hot air dryer (SSD/AD) both from drying kinetics and dried product quality points of view. The experiments were performed using the first-stage superheated steam drying temperature of 140°C while the second-stage heat pump drying (or hot air drying) was performed at 50°C. The moisture content of shrimp at the end of the superheated steam drying stage was varied between 30 and 40% (w.b.). The effect of tempering between SSD/HPD was also investigated. Shrinkage, color, rehydration behavior, texture (toughness and hardness), and microstructure of dried shrimp were measured. The results showed that SSD/HPD dried shrimp had much lower degree of shrinkage, higher degree of rehydration, better color, less tough and softer, and more porous than single-stage SSD dried shrimp. It was also found that SSD/AD gave redder shrimp compared to shrimp dried in a single-stage superheated steam dryer. No improvement in terms of shrinkage and rehydration behavior was observed, however.     

An experimental study on the performance of a condensing tumbler dryer with an air-to-air heat exchanger

The performance of energy consumption in the closed-loop tumbler dryer with a condenser for clothes drying is evaluated as a function of the heater capacity, the drying air flow rate inside the dryer, and the cooling air flow rate. The clothes dryer in laundries used in this study consists of a tumbling drum, condenser for condensing the humid and hot air flowing out the rotating drums, and electric heater for heating the circulating drying air. Tests were performed at the heating capacity of 1.9 kW to 2.7 kW, the drying air flow rate of 60 m³/h to 140 m³/h, and the cooling air flow rate of 100 m³/h to 240 m³/h. The total energy consumption, the drying time, and the condensate water rate were also investigated. Parametric results showed that a larger heater power resulted in shorter drying time. With increasing heater power, the air temperature and the condensate rate increased due to the higher humidity ratio in the air. The drying air flow rate and the cooling air flow rate did not have a significant effect on drying performance.     

HYBRID DRYING OF GRANULAR MATERIALS BY COMBINED RADIATIVE AND CONVECTIVE HEATING

ABSTRACT

As one of the basic steps of the R&D on hybrid drying by combined radiative and convective heating, drying experiments of a stagnant horizontal wet granular layer heated simultaneously by infrared lamps and hot air were conducted throughout a whole period of the drying. An opaque model, in which the incident radiation is assumed to be absorbed only on the surface of the layer, was introduced to explain experimental trends. Then, the effects of combined heating on drying characteristics of three kinds of samples, a silica sand, a brick and a brown coal were discussed by comparing the experimental data with the calculated results.

The calculated results were found to be in a close agreement with the experimental data obtained on the time behaviors of the drying rate and the temperature distribution in the- layer during not only the preheating and the constant rate periods but also the falling rate period. In the case of the coal layer, however, the falling drying rate different from that in ordinary convective drying had to be considered since it appeared that the radiative heating had an effect to enhance the falling drying rate of the coal owing to some interactions of the coal and water.     

Fundamental Research on Drying Process in Institute of Engineering Thermophysics,CAS

Abstract

Some results of our fundamental research on drying processes are summed up in this article. It consists of three parts: (1) Multistage fluidized bed drying, including particle flowing characteristics, heat and mass transfer between particles and drying medium, drying characteristics of drying materials; (2) Impinging stream drying, the flowing and drying characteristics of a vertical impinging stream dryer, one-stage and multistage semi-circular impinging stream dryer and combined vertical and semi-circular impinging stream dryer are discussed; (3) The effects of rapid transient heat and mass transfer on drying processes, such as time and space scales for nonFourier or nonFickian and influence of extreme heat and mass transfer are also discussed.     

Experimental Investigation of a Solar Bamboo Dryer

ABSTRACT

An experimental investigation use conducted on the performance of a solar box dryer for drying bamboo operating under tropical rearher conditions. The dryer is a greenhouse-type designed for multi-crap solar drying. Air circulation was by electrically-operated fan. The results shoved that the moisture content of the bamboo could be brought down to about 19% from an initial value of nearly 90% in 17 days by operating the dryer over 8 hours each day. Under natural drying conditiona. the final moisture content reached was only 12%. Although eolar drying of bamboo vaa only marginally faster than nacural drying. noncrhelesa. final moisture content was lower.