Energy and drying time optimization of convective drying: Taguchi and LBM methods

Abstract

In this study, a novel method for numerical simulation of drying is proposed and the process is optimized by Taguchi method. A 2D numerical solution is performed to analyze coupled heat and mass transfer occurring during drying of a rectangular moist object. The dryer section and the moist object are conjugately simulated where the coupled heat and mass transfer equations are solved together. The lattice Boltzmann method is employed to solve hydrodynamic, heat, and mass transfer equations. This study applied the Taguchi method to determine optimum conditions for drying so as to minimize the drying time and energy consumption. The control factors included temperature, air velocity, and thickness ratio (the moist object thickness to channel width). The following optimal conditions were obtained: temperature (T = 60 °C), velocity (V = 0.1 m/s), and thickness ratio (TR =0.1). The results of numerical solution are then compared to the measured data available in the literature, presenting a reasonable agreement.