Studies on Heat and Mass Transfer Coefficients of Pearl Millet in a Batch Fluidized Bed Dryer

Abstract

Drying is the mechanism for separation of moisture content from the solids. The heat transfer mechanism in dryers is by several modes such as conduction, convection, and radiation and sometimes in the combination of two or three of them. Fluidized bed dryer is adapted to process industries like pharmaceuticals, food, and cement due to a wide range of applications. Generally, fluidized bed dryers are operated with preheated air at high temperatures. The bed particles behave like a fluid with hot air. Heat and mass transfer plays a main role in fluidized bed dryer. In the process of drying, heat and mass transfer coefficients of particles in the bed changes rapidly. India is one of the major producers of grains in the world. Fluidized bed dryer is widely used in particulate drying. In this study, experiments were performed to determine heat and mass transfer coefficients of pearl millet varying different parameters in fluidized bed dryer.