Abstract

This study investigates the influence of drying temperature on the conductive drying behavior of washing phosphate sludge. A mathematical model, based on Fourier's Fick diffusion law and the heat transfer equation, was developed to simulate coupled heat and mass transfer during the drying process, incorporating the shrinkage effect. The sludge samples, obtained from the Khouribga phosphate plant in Morocco, were subjected to drying at temperatures of 70°C and 95°C. The experimental setup included continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity, and mass loss throughout the process. COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to solve the nonlinear equations governing heat and mass transfer. Results indicate that increasing the drying temperature significantly accelerates the drying rate. The model successfully predicts the moisture content and temperature distribution over time, aligning well with experimental data. Statistical validation, using the determination coefficient (R²) and root mean square error (RMSE), confirms that the model accurately describes the drying behavior, with R² values of 0.9957 and 0.9967 at 70°C and 95°C, respectively. The inclusion of the shrinkage effect enhances the model's precision in describing the drying kinetics under varying conditions.

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