Abstract
ABSTRACT Simultaneous heat and mass transfer equations were developed to simulate the infrared radiative heating of agricultural crops. The equations assume that moisture diffuses to the outer boundaries of the material in liquid form and evaporation occurs at the surface of the kernel. Energy for moisture evaporation is supplied by the infrared radiant energy. The equations were validated with experimental data on surface temperature and average moisture content of barley kernels. Average deviations of predicted surface kernel temperature and average kernel moisture from experimental data were 3.9°C and 0.6%(w.b.), respectively. These comparisons were performed using kernels having initial moisture contents of 12.2%, 17.C% and 23.17%. Sensitivity analysis of process parameters showed that infrared burner temperature, distance of infrared burner from the grain bed, grain initial moisture content and grain heating time significantly affected kernel temperature. Burner temperature and burner height had no significant effect on grain final moisture content.
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