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

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.