Process Design Model for a Single-Zone Tunnel Dryer.
Abstract
Many products must be dried in their manufacture. The process of evaporating moisture from these products is energy intensive. As a consequence of limited energy resources, there has been advancement in both drying technology and drying theory. However, drying has evolved from an ancient art and implementation of new technology has been slow. Dielectric heating at radio frequencies (RF) or microwave frequencies is a relatively recent technological advancement in the drying industry, and theoretical and experimental studies of dielectrically-assisted drying are the subject of ongoing investigation. Transfer of this new knowledge to dryer designers through appropriate design tools will accelerate the incorporation of dielectric heating into commercial drying processes. Directed toward a larger goal of predictive design models of dielectrically-assisted dryers, the objective of this work is to develop a fundamental model of the drying processes in a continuous convective tunnel dryer. A model of the drying process consists of two subsidiary models. One represents the transport of the product through the dryer, an equipment model, and the other describes the drying kinetics of the product. For conventional convective drying, the product model may be represented by a characteristic drying curve which allows prediction of drying rates under various external convective conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA187377
Entities
People
- Barrett A. Flake
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology