Chapter 7 Drying

CL 321
Kaustubh Rane

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 Tray dryer

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http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu Adapted from “Mass transfer operations” by Treyball
 Through circulation dryer (Batch mode)

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Adapted from “Mass transfer operations” by Treyball
 Belt or conveyor dryer

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http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu Adapted from “Mass transfer operations” by Treyball
 Fluidized bed dryer

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encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu pharmapproach.com
 Rotary dryer

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http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu Adapted from “Mass transfer operations” by Treyball
 Tunnel truck dryer (continuous)

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Adapted from “Mass transfer operations” by Treyball
 Drying example 1

A wet solid having 32% moisture (dry basis) is to be dried on a tray drier
to final moisture of 1%. The solid loading is 30kg dry solid per 𝑚2 tray
area. There are two critical moisture values, 0.183 and 0.097. A
laboratory test gives drying rate of 4𝑘𝑔/𝑚2 ℎ in the constant rate period.
In the first falling rate period, the drying flux is linear in moisture
content; in the second falling rate, the drying flux varies as the square of
the moisture content. The equilibrium moisture is negligible. Calculate
the drying time if drying conditions are same as in the laboratory set up.
Mention the assumptions made.

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 Drying example 2

A granular wet solid is taken on a tray (1m x 0.6m) and dried in a stream
of hot air (120𝑜 𝐶; humidity 0.02 kg/kg dry air, velocity = 4.5 𝑚/𝑠 ). The
initial moisture content of 28% (dry basis) is to be reduced to 0.5% (dry
basis). From laboratory tests it is known that the critical moisture content
is 12% (dry basis) and the equilibrium moisture content is negligible.
The falling rate of drying is linear in the moisture content. If the solid
loading (dry basis) is 35𝑘𝑔/𝑚2 , calculate the drying time. Assume air
flow is large enough so that humidity and temperature of air does not
change. Also assume that the heat transfer by conduction and radiation is
negligible.

𝑊 𝑘𝑔
ℎ𝑐 = 0.0204𝐺 ′0.8 ℎ𝑐 , 𝐺 ′
: 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑚2 𝐾 𝑚2 ℎ

𝑇𝑤𝑏 120𝑜 𝐶, 0.02 𝑎𝑏𝑠 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 42o

𝑇𝑤𝑏 120𝑜 𝐶, 0.02 𝑎𝑏𝑠 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 0.054 9

 Drying example 3
Spherical catalyst particles (𝑑𝑝 = 5mm) are to be dried by through circulation drying of
hot air (temperature = 90𝑜 𝐶, humidity = 0.018 kg per kg of dry air) at a superficial
velocity of 0.8 𝑚/𝑠 through 30𝑚𝑚 thick bed of particles having moisture of 36%. The
solid is not hygroscopic; critical moisture content is 12% and the equilibrium moisture
content is negligible. The dried product is unloaded at 70𝑜 𝐶 with 0.2% moisture. The
falling rate is linear in moisture content. All moisture is on dry basis. Density of dry
𝑘𝐽
solid = 600 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 , heat capacity of solid = 0.4 𝑜 and the effective surface area of
𝑘𝑔 𝐶
drying = 400 𝑚2 /𝑚3 . Calculate (a) Constant drying rate, (b) total drying time, © the
time of heating of the dry solid to 70𝑜 𝐶.

𝑘𝐽
𝐶𝑠 = 1.005 + 𝑌 ′ 1.88
𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑖𝑟

𝜇𝐺 = 2.2 × 10−5 𝑁. 𝑠/𝑚2

0.49
𝐺′ 𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑝 𝐺′
ℎ𝑐 = 0.214 𝐺′ 𝑑𝑝 𝑚 𝑅𝑒 = < 350
𝑑𝑝0.51 ℎ. 𝑚2 𝜇𝐺

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