Mass Power Input Research Articles

Modelling Convective Drying of Granular Materials : Application to Natural Rubber

ABSTRACT The mathematical model proposed enables the description of mass and energy transfers during convection drying of granular materials. It shows evolution of the water content of the material in time and space, air and grain temperature, relative humidity of intergranular air, settling of the layer. mass energy and mass power input. Operation of the model requires experimenral determination of the water exchange coefficient between the material and drying air using thin layer drying kinetics. The software proposed enables the simulation of thick layers of granular material, as in an industrial drier. It is applied to the drying of natural rubber, taking into account the characteristics of the drying air and the flux direction in each drier zone. The aim of simulation is to optimise drying panmeters for improvement of the management and possibly the design or industrial driers.