Effect of Pressure on Moisture Transfer During Moisture Adsorption

Abstract

ABSTRACT A set of coupled heat, mass, and pressure transfer equations was used to describe the moisture adsorption process in gmn kernels. The finite element method was used to solve the system of equations. The technique was applied to analyze the temperature, moisture, and pressure distribution in a barley kernel during soaking with steep water. The temperature and moisture distributions with (heat, mass, and pressure transfer model) and without (heat and mass uansfer) the effect of pressure were simulated for assumed conditions. The results obtained from the heat, mass, and pressure transfer model show a marked difference from the results obtained from the heat and mass transfer model. This indicated that a pressure gradient exists during the transfer Process, causing additional moisture movement due to filtration effect. Hence. the pressure tern cannot be assumed constant during the moisture adsorption process. The simulated temperature, moisture and pressure profiles and gradients can be used for det...