DRYING RATE AND TEMPERATURE PROFILE FOR SUPERHEATED STEAM VACUUM DRYING AND MOIST AIR DRYING OF SOFTWOOD LUMBER

Abstract

Two charges of green radiata pine sapwood lumber were dried, either using superheated steam under vacuum (90°C, 0.2 bar abs.) or conventionally using hot moist air (90/60°C). Due to low density of the drying medium under vacuum, the circulation velocity used was 10 m/s for superheated steam drying and 5.0 m/s for moist air drying, and in both cases, the flow was unidirectional. In drying, stack drying rate and wood temperatures were measured to examine the differences between the superheated steam drying and drying using hot moist air.

The experimental results have shown that the stack edge board in superheated steam drying dried faster than in the hot moist air drying. Once again due to the low density of the steam under vacuum, a prolonged maximum temperature drop across load (TDAL) was observed in the superheated steam drying, however, the whole stack dried slower and the final moisture content distribution was more variable than for conventional hot moist air drying. Wood temperatures in superheated steam drying were lower.     

STEAM DRYING OF WOOD CHIPS IN PNEUMATIC CONVEYING DRYERS

ABSTRACT

A model for a pneumatic conveying dryer is presented. Although the main emphasis is put on superheated steam drying of wood chips, it can be used for other porous materials as well

The model includes a comprehensive two-dimensional model for the drying of single wood chips which accounts for the main physical mechanisms occurring in wood during drying. The external drying conditions in a pneumatic conveying dryer were calculated by applying the mass, heat and momentum equations for each incremental step in dryer length. A plug flow assumption was made for the dryer model and the single particle and dryer models were solved in an iterative manner. The non-spherical nature of wood chips were accounted for by measuring the drag and heat transfer coefficients

Model calculations illustrate the complex interactions between steam, particles and walls which occur in a flash dryer. The drying rate varies in a very complex manner through the dryer. The internal resistance to mass transfer becomes very important in The drying of less permeable wood species such as spruce. Two effects were observed as the particle size was increased: firstly the heat transfer rate decreased, and secondly the residence time increased. To some extent, these effects compensate for each other, however, the net result is that larger chips have a higher final moisture content.     

Modeling Superheated Steam Vacuum Drying of Wood

Abstract

A two-dimensional mathematical model developed for vacuum-contact drying of wood was adapted to simulate superheated steam vacuum drying. The moisture and heat equations are based on the water potential concept whereas the pressure equation is formulated considering unsteady-state mass conservation of dry air. A drying test conducted on sugar maple sapwood in a laboratory vacuum kiln was used to infer the convective mass and heat transfer coefficients through a curve fitting technique. The average air velocity was 2.5 m s^?1 and the dry-bulb temperature varied between 60 and 66°C. The ambient pressure varied from 15 to 11 kPa. Simulation results indicate that heat and mass transfer coefficients are moisture content dependent. The simulated drying curve based on transfer coefficients calculated from boundary layer theory poorly fits experimental results. The functional relation for the relative permeability of wood to air is a key parameter in predicting the pressure evolution in wood in the course of drying. In the case of small vacuum kilns, radiant heat can contribute substantially to the total heat transfer to the evaporative surface at the early stages of drying. As for conventional drying, the air velocity could be reduced at the latter stage of drying with little or no change to the drying rate.     

DRYING RATE AND TEMPERATURE PROFILE FOR SUPERHEATED STEAM VACUUM DRYING AND MOIST AIR DRYING OF SOFTWOOD LUMBER

Two charges of green radiata pine sapwood lumber were dried, either using superheated steam under vacuum (90°C, 0.2 bar abs.) or conventionally using hot moist air (90/60°C). Due to low density of the drying medium under vacuum, the circulation velocity used was 10 m/s for superheated steam drying and 5.0 m/s for moist air drying, and in both cases, the flow was unidirectional. In drying, stack drying rate and wood temperatures were measured to examine the differences between the superheated steam drying and drying using hot moist air.

The experimental results have shown that the stack edge board in superheated steam drying dried faster than in the hot moist air drying. Once again due to the low density of the steam under vacuum, a prolonged maximum temperature drop across load (TDAL) was observed in the superheated steam drying, however, the whole stack dried slower and the final moisture content distribution was more variable than for conventional hot moist air drying. Wood temperatures in superheated steam drying were lower.     

A NON DESTRUCTIVE METHOD FOR QUANTIFYING THE WOOD DRYING QUALITY USED TO DETERMINE THE INTRA AND INTER SPECIES VARIABILITY

ABSTRACT

A non destructive method for surface strain measurements is proposed to quantify the wood drying quality during convective drying. This method uses a visible laser scan micrometer intercepting needles maintained vertical at the board surface with a special device, and then gives shrinkage values at several surface points. The results analysis is related to heal and mass transfer phenomena.

Experiments were made on softwoods and hardwoods either with superheated steam or with moist air. Results show that stages of shrinkage agree with classical periods of transfer. Besides, shrinkage results from a compromise between global shrinkage of the board section and local effects bounded with drying conditions. We define two criteria for the drying quality. One compares experimental average shrinkage and free shrinkage, and the other quantifies the differences of shrinkage values between several surface points. Both criteria have to be associated in order to analyse the species behavior in terms of checking during the second drying period.     

SUPERHEATED STEAM IMPINGEMENT DRYING OF TORTILLA CHIPS

ABSTRACT

Low-fat snack products are the driving forces for the drying of tortilla chips before frying. Super-heated steam impingement drying of foods has the advantage of improved energy efficiency and product quality. The temperature profile, drying curves, and the physical properties (shrinkage, crispiness, starch gelatinization and microstructure) of tortilla chips dried at different superheated steam temperatures and heat transfer coefficients were measured. Results indicated that the steam temperature had a greater effect on the drying curve than the heat transfer coefficient within the range of study. The microstructure of the samples after steam drying showed that higher steam temperature resulted in more pores and coarser appearance. The modulus of deformation and the shrinkage of tortilla chips correlated with moisture content. A higher steam temperature caused less shrinkage and a higher modulus of deformation. The pasting properties showed that samples dried under a higher steam temperature and a higher heat transfer coefficient gelatinized less during drying and had a higher ability to absorb water. Comparison of the superheated steam drying and air drying revealed that at elevated temperatures the superheated steam provided higher drying rates. Furthermore, there was a less starch gelatinization associated with air drying compared to superheated steam drying.     

THE INFLUENCE OF THE DRYING MEDIUM ON HIGH TEMPERATURE CONVECTIVE DRYING OF SINGLE WOOD CHIPS

ABSTRACT

High temperature convective drying of single wood chips with air and superheated steam respectively is studied theoretically. The two-dimensional model presented describes the coupled transport of water, vapour, air and heat. Transport mechanisms included are the convection of gas and liquid, intergas as well as bound water diffusion. In the initial part of the drying process, moisture is transported to the surface mainly due to capillary forces in the transversal direction where evaporation occurs, As the surface becomes dry, the drying front moves towards the centre of the particle and an overpressure is simultaneously built up which affects the drying process

The differences between drying in air and steam respectively can be assigned to the physical properties of the drying medium. The period of constant drying rate which does not exist (or is very short) in air drying becomes more significant with decreasing amounts of air in the drying medium and is clearly visible in Dure superheated steam drying. The maximal drying rate is larger in air drying, and shorter drying times are obtained since the heat flux to the wood chip particle increases with increasing amounts of air in the drying medium. The period of falling drying rate can be divided into two parts: in the first, the drying rate is dependent upon the humidity of the drying medium whereas in the second, there is no such correlation.     

COMPARISON OF SUPERHEATED STEAM AND AIR OPERATED SPRAY DRYERS USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS.

ABSTRACT

In this paper a numerical simulation of a spray dryer using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Fluent is described. This simulation is based on a discrete droplet model and solve the partial differential equations of momentum, heat and mass conservation for both gas and dispersed phase.

The model is used to simulate the behaviour of a pilot scale spray dryer operated with two drying media : superheated steam and air Considering that there is no risk of powder ignition in superheated steam, we choosed a rather high inlet temperature (973 K). For the simulation, drop size spectrum is represented by 6 discrete droplets diameters, fitting to an experimental droplets size distribution and all droplets are injected at the same velocity, equal to the calculated velocity of the liquid sheet at the nozzle orifice.

It is showed that the model can evaluate the most important features of a spray dryer : temperature distribution inside the chamber, velocity of gas, droplets trajectories as well as deposits on the walls. The model predicts a fast down flowing core jet surrounded by a large recirculation zone. Using superheated steam or air as a drying medium shows only slight differences in flow patterns. Except for the recirculation which is tighter in steam.

The general behaviour of droplets in air or steam are quite the same : smallest droplets are entrained by the central core and largest ones are taken into the recirculation zone. In superheated steam, the droplets penetrate to a greater extent in the recirculation zone. Also, they evaporate faster. The contours of gas temperature reflect these differences as these two aspects are strongly coupled. In both air and steam there is a “cool” zone which is narrower in steam than in air. Finally, the panicle deposit problem seems to be more pronounced in air than in steam.

Adding to the inherent interest in using superheated steam as a drying medium, the model predicts attractive behaviour for spray drying with superheated steam. In particular. under the conditions tested with the model, a higher volumetric drying rate is obtained in superheated steam.     

Modeling Superheated Steam Vacuum Drying of Wood

A two-dimensional mathematical model developed for vacuum-contact drying of wood was adapted to simulate superheated steam vacuum drying. The moisture and heat equations are based on the water potential concept whereas the pressure equation is formulated considering unsteady-state mass conservation of dry air. A drying test conducted on sugar maple sapwood in a laboratory vacuum kiln was used to infer the convective mass and heat transfer coefficients through a curve fitting technique. The average air velocity was 2.5 m s^-1 and the dry-bulb temperature varied between 60 and 66°C. The ambient pressure varied from 15 to 11 kPa. Simulation results indicate that heat and mass transfer coefficients are moisture content dependent. The simulated drying curve based on transfer coefficients calculated from boundary layer theory poorly fits experimental results. The functional relation for the relative permeability of wood to air is a key parameter in predicting the pressure evolution in wood in the course of drying. In the case of small vacuum kilns, radiant heat can contribute substantially to the total heat transfer to the evaporative surface at the early stages of drying. As for conventional drying, the air velocity could be reduced at the latter stage of drying with little or no change to the drying rate.     

STEAM DRYING OF WOOD CHIPS IN PNEUMATIC CONVEYING DRYERS

A model for a pneumatic conveying dryer is presented. Although the main emphasis is put on superheated steam drying of wood chips, it can be used for other porous materials as well

The model includes a comprehensive two-dimensional model for the drying of single wood chips which accounts for the main physical mechanisms occurring in wood during drying. The external drying conditions in a pneumatic conveying dryer were calculated by applying the mass, heat and momentum equations for each incremental step in dryer length. A plug flow assumption was made for the dryer model and the single particle and dryer models were solved in an iterative manner. The non-spherical nature of wood chips were accounted for by measuring the drag and heat transfer coefficients

Model calculations illustrate the complex interactions between steam, particles and walls which occur in a flash dryer. The drying rate varies in a very complex manner through the dryer. The internal resistance to mass transfer becomes very important in The drying of less permeable wood species such as spruce. Two effects were observed as the particle size was increased: firstly the heat transfer rate decreased, and secondly the residence time increased. To some extent, these effects compensate for each other, however, the net result is that larger chips have a higher final moisture content.     

ANALYSIS OF TRANSPORT PHENOMENA DURING THE CONVECTIVE DRYING IN SUPERHEATED STEAM

Abstract

This work focused on high-temperature convective drying (superheated steam drying). The process has been investigated both experimentally and numerically. The experimental analysis was carried out in an aerodynamic return-flow wind-tunnel, with very small cylinders of cellular concrete. For the local analysis, the samples were fitted with thermocouples and pressure sensors. The mean moisture content of the cylinders was measured by simple weighing while the temperature and pressure readings were being taken. Global and. local analysis of heat and mass transfer in small cylinders in superheated steam were carried out. The systematical study for several sizes and aerothermal conditions show a similar behavior for moisture content, pressure and temperature values. A numerical model for high temperature drying, using the finite elements method, in a 2-D configuration, was implemented and validated.     

A mathematical model for drum drying of black liquor slurry using superheated steam impinging jets

A mathematical model is developed and tested for drum drying of an aqueous slurry subjected to impinging jets of superheated steam. The heat and mass transfer within the slurry film was modeled as a one dimensional, pseudo unsteady diffusion problem while the external convective heat transfer rate was obtained by solving the steady full conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy numerically in two and three dimensions. A modified low Reynolds number version of the k-? turbulence model was selected after a careful evaluation of the predictive performance of various k-? models for impingement flow and heat transfer. The computed heat transfer one-dimensional diffusion model for the slurry film. Agreement between experimental data obtained using a black liquor slurry and results of the model was found to be satisfactory.     

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.     

THE INFLUENCE OF DRYING MEDIUM,TEMPERATURE, AND TIME ON THE RELEASE OF MONOTERPENES DURING CONVECTIVE DRYING OF WOOD CHIPS

ABSTRACT

The release of volatile organic components (VOC) during the drying of wood chips was studied experimentally. The drying medium was hot dry air with a pressure of 1 bar and velocity of 1 m/s. Four different temperature levels of the drying medium, i.e., 120, 140, 160 and 180°C, and two different materials, Scots Pine and Norway Spruce, were investigated. It was found that the main components released consist of various types of monoterpenes, with α-pinene dominating in each of the two materials. The amount released is time-dependent, showing a maximum at shorter times. The release rate is more intensive at higher drying temperatures. The mass-balance for α-pinene was checked by comparing the amount present in the wood chip before and after drying with the amount obtained by integrating the release curve. A good agreement was obtained. Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope pictures were taken of both the spruce and pine chip in order to investigate differences in the wood structure before and after drying with air at 160°C. No obvious structural change could, however, be observed. The influence of the drying medium on the release rate of monoterpenes (air and superheated steam) was also studied. The results showed that the release rate was faster when drying with superheated steam.     

Drying Foodstuffs with Superheated Steam

Abstract

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.

     

COMPARISON OF SUPERHEATED STEAM AND AIR OPERATED SPRAY DRYERS USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS.

In this paper a numerical simulation of a spray dryer using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Fluent is described. This simulation is based on a discrete droplet model and solve the partial differential equations of momentum, heat and mass conservation for both gas and dispersed phase.

The model is used to simulate the behaviour of a pilot scale spray dryer operated with two drying media : superheated steam and air Considering that there is no risk of powder ignition in superheated steam, we choosed a rather high inlet temperature (973 K). For the simulation, drop size spectrum is represented by 6 discrete droplets diameters, fitting to an experimental droplets size distribution and all droplets are injected at the same velocity, equal to the calculated velocity of the liquid sheet at the nozzle orifice.

It is showed that the model can evaluate the most important features of a spray dryer : temperature distribution inside the chamber, velocity of gas, droplets trajectories as well as deposits on the walls. The model predicts a fast down flowing core jet surrounded by a large recirculation zone. Using superheated steam or air as a drying medium shows only slight differences in flow patterns. Except for the recirculation which is tighter in steam.

The general behaviour of droplets in air or steam are quite the same : smallest droplets are entrained by the central core and largest ones are taken into the recirculation zone. In superheated steam, the droplets penetrate to a greater extent in the recirculation zone. Also, they evaporate faster. The contours of gas temperature reflect these differences as these two aspects are strongly coupled. In both air and steam there is a “cool” zone which is narrower in steam than in air. Finally, the panicle deposit problem seems to be more pronounced in air than in steam.

Adding to the inherent interest in using superheated steam as a drying medium, the model predicts attractive behaviour for spray drying with superheated steam. In particular. under the conditions tested with the model, a higher volumetric drying rate is obtained in superheated steam.     

THERMAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION OF SIPERHEATED STEM DRYING SYSTEM USING SOLAR-ASSISTED ABSORPTION HEAT TRANSFORMER

ABSTRACT

This paper summarizes the main results of our study carried out under the priority-area research “Energy Conversion and Utilization with High Efficiency” supported by the grant-in-aid of scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan. In the research we focused on applications of solar energy utilization for industrial drying systems. In this paper a new concept of a closed drying system with superheated steam provided from a temperature boosting type heat pump (absorption type heat transformer) was proposed. The heat transformer is driven directly by heat from a solar collector. The performance for different three drying periods and a number of factors affecting it were predicted by a computer simulation. Furthermore the heat and mass transfer characteristics of water evaporation into superheated steam stream by radiative and convective heating were indicated experimentally. It was concluded that the system would be useful for industries where high temperature (over 100°C) drying is required.     

A kinetic study of microwave and fluidized-bed drying of a Chinese lignite

The drying kinetics of Chinese lignite in nitrogen fluidized-bed, superheated steam fluidized-bed and microwave were investigated. The changes in the mass as a function of drying time were measured under various drying conditions. The variations of moisture ratio with time were used to test ten different thin-layer empirical drying models given in the literature. In studying the consistency of all the models, some statistical tests, such as χ², residual sum of squares (RSS) and F-value were also used as well as coefficient of determination R². In nitrogen fluidized-bed and superheated steam fluidized-bed, the Midilli–Kucuk model best described the lignite drying process. Drying data in microwave were best described by the Page model, indicative of a difference in kinetics between the two drying methods. This difference was attributed to different heat transfer mechanisms under conventional and microwave drying conditions. The effects of drying parameters in nitrogen fluidized-bed, superheated steam fluidized-bed and microwave drying on the constants and coefficients of the selected models were studied by multiple regression analysis. The apparent diffusion coefficient of moisture in samples was obtained from the kinetics data and the apparent activation energies under nitrogen fluidized-bed, superheated steam fluidized-bed and microwave drying were found to be rather similar.     

Thermophysical Characteristics of Potatoes,Vegetables and Fruits

ABSTRACT

The main objective in this work is to study and deduce a governing equation for net mass transfer in moist air and turbulent flow. Development of simple and reliable steady state models for turbulent moist air-drying has been considered to be quite well covered in literature. However, the lack of necessary background information concerning classical drying models is now being rectified through research carried out with new approaches, which are initiated by advancement in laboratory equipment.

The known and trusted models are combined with coupled momentum, heat and mass transfer equations creating a reliable governing mass transfer equation for use in turbulent moist air drying processes, i.e. the advanced drying model (ADM). The ADM is a relatively user friendly and robust model, and it is well-suited for identifying transfer coefficients from boundary layer measurements, for example in modem high intensity paper drying machines.

The advanced drying model is analysed and verified with the specially designed experimental apparatus described in this article. The deduced mass transfer equation is then presented and experimentally verified to clarify why the use of Stefan's diffusion equation should be avoided when calculating high drying intensities in turbulent flow.

Finally, when applied to a wide drying range, the classical drying models require parameters which have been experimentally verified. Therefore, a comprehensive knowledge of governing mass transfer mechanisms will also reduce the large number of necessary drying experiments. The advanced drying model, which includes variable physical properties and transport coefficients, allows the simulation of many geometrical shapes and drying configurations and therefore provides a tool for optimising drying processes in a new manner.     

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.