Estimation of Moisture Diffusivity Coefficient and Thermal Properties of Alfalfa Pellets

Abstract

Heat and mass transfer characteristics of alfalfa pellets are needed in the optimization of coolers for freshly-made pellets and in managing storage schedules of the pellets in silos and bins. Moisture diffusivity and thermal properties are important parameters used to characterize the heat and mass transfer ability of a material. In this study, experimental thin-layer data on (a) moisture desorption, (b) moisture absorption and (c) rate of heating of alfalfa pellets were collected. By applying the inverse theory and using second order mass transfer and heat transfer equations in cylindrical coordinates, the moisture absorption and desorption data were used to estimate the moisture diffusivity as a function of moisture content of the pellets while the heating rate data were used to estimate the thermal properties (thermal conductivity and specific heat) as a function of pellet temperature. Better estimates were obtained when moisture diffusivity of the pellets was exponentially related to moisture content in comparison with a linear relation between moisture diffusivity and moisture content. Moisture diffusivity during desorption (2·40×10 - 9to 4·12×10 - 9 m 2/s) was about three times that of the values of diffusivity during moisture absorption (7·50×10 - 1 0to 1·26×10 - 9 m 2/s). A good fit to the experimental heating rate data was obtained when thermal conductivity and specific heat of the pellets were linearly related to temperature. Over a temperature range of 2 to 110°C, estimated particle thermal conductivities and specific heats of the pellets were in the range of 0·04 to 0·19 W/m K and from 962 to 2114 J/kg K respectively.