Heat and Mass Transfer Characteristics of Barley During Fir Drying

Abstract

Higher moisture removal rate and higher temperature of grain were observed with the increase in intensity level. Contrary to convective grain drying, an increase in air velocity caused a negative effect while relative humidity resulted in increase of drying rate. Initial moisture content of grain does have influence on the drying rate but less significant than radiation intensity and inlet air velocity. The drying data were fitted to the modified exponential model using NLIN regression technique. The coefficients obtained were then correlated against independent variables using stepwise multiple linear regression. The proposed model gave adequate prediction of the experimental data.