Three-dimensional modelling of pneumatic drying process

Abstract

Steady-state three-dimensional calculations of heat and mass transfer in vertical pneumatic dryer were performed. The theoretical model of the drying process is based on two-phase Eulerian–Lagrangian approach for gas-particles flow and incorporates advanced drying kinetics for wet particles. The model was utilized for simulation of the drying process of wet PVC and silica particles in a large-scale vertical pneumatic dryer. The influence of wall thermal boundary conditions was investigated by assuming either known value of the wall temperature or adiabatic flow in the dryer. Analyzing the predicted particle drying kinetics, an uneven product quality was predicted due to non-uniform drying conditions in the central and peripheral zones of the pneumatic dryer. Moreover, for the case of non-insulated chamber walls such quality unevenness was estimated to be substantially greater than for the case with thermally insulated drying chamber. The examination of the predicted temperature profiles within the silica and PVC wet particles showed that the latter is subjected to higher temperature gradients potentially resulting in the greater rate of thermally-degraded final product.