Conjugate heat and mass transfer model for predicting thin-layer drying uniformity in a compact, crossflow dehydrator. Issue 5 (3rd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ostanek, Jason; Ileleji, Klein
• Is Part Of: Drying technology. Volume 38:Issue 5/6(2020)
• Page Start: 775
• Page End: 792
• Publication Date: 2020-04-03
• Subjects: Corn -- thin-layer drying -- conjugate heat and mass transfer -- CFD; Drying -- Periodicals; Desiccation; 660.28426
• DOI: 10.1080/07373937.2019.1590394
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0737-3937

Abstract

Abstract: A conjugate heat and mass transfer model was implemented into a commercial CFD code to analyze the convective drying of corn. The Navier–Stokes equations for drying air flow were coupled to diffusion equations for heat and moisture transport in a corn kernel during drying. Model formulation and implementation in the commercial software is discussed. Validation simulations were conducted to compare numerical results to experimental, thin-layer drying data. The model was then used to analyze drying performance for a compact, crossflow dehydrator. At low inlet air temperatures, the drying rate in the compact dehydrator matched the thin-layer drying rate. At higher temperatures, heat losses through the external walls resulted in temperature and moisture variations across the dehydrator.