Setting up the drying regimes based on the theory of moisture migration during drying

Abstract

Drying is energy intensive process which has important effect on the quality of the clay tiles that are dried commercially. Chamber and tunnel dryers are constantly improving. Better technical equipment and operational strategies have lead to higher quality of the dried clay products. The moisture migration during isothermal drying process can be visually traced on the curve that represents the relationship between variable effective moisture diffusivity (MR) with time (t). Proposed non isothermal drying regimes were consisted from several isothermal segments. For the first time, the choice of isothermal segments specification and its duration was not specified by experience or by trial-and-error method. It was detected from the isothermal curves Deff - MR in accordance with the theory of moisture migration during drying. Proposed drying regimes were tested. Clay roofing tiles were dried without cracks. Dried clay roofing tiles has satisfied all requirements defined in EN 1304 norm related to the shape regularity and mechanical properties.