Heat & Mass: Part 2 Drying
conduction through hot surfaces and heat
Drying
 Refers to the removal of liquid from a
solid by evaporation
 Reduction in moisture content from an
initial value to some acceptable value
 Removal of water at temperatures
below the boiling point by circulating air
or some other gas over the material
 Final removal of water
 Operation which often follows
Crystallization or Filtration
Note: A heater and A dehumidifier is integral
with a drier
 Dry Weight Basis (Moisture Content) –
expresses the moisture content of wet
solid as mass per mass of bone-dry solid
 Wet-weight Basis – expresses the
moisture in a material as percentage of
weight of the wet solid.
Constant Drying Conditions:
Assumption: (All Constant)
 Temperature
 Humidity
 Velocity
 Direction of flow of the air across the
Drying Surface
Constant Rate Period:
Note: If heat is transferred solely by convection
and in the absence of other heat effects, the
surface temp approaches the WET BULB TEMP
Note: If heat is transferred by radiation,
conduction, or a combination of these and
convection the temp of the saturated surface
between the wet bulb temp and the boiling
point of water. (rate of heat transfer is
increased and a higher drying rate results)
Note: When heat is transferred to a wet solid by
transfer
Note: When the heat for evaporation in the
constant rate period is supplied by a hot gas, a
dynamic equilibrium is established between the
rate of vapor removal from the surface
Magnitude of Constant Rate depends upon
three factors:
1. The heat or mass transfer coefficient
2. Area exposed to the drying medium
3. The difference in temperature or
humidity between the gas stream and
the wet surface of the solids
Note: All of these factors are external variables.
The internal mechanism of liquid does not
affect the constant rate.
Falling Rate Period:
-The initial moisture content is below the
critical moisture content, the entire drying
process will occur in the falling rate period.
2 Zones of the Falling Rate Period
1. The zone of unsaturated surface drying
– first frp – portion ce
2. The zone where the internal moisture
movement controls – second frp –
portion de
Critical Moisture Content:
-Average moisture content when the constant
rate period ends.
Its value depends on:
1. Rate of Drying
2. Thickness of the Material
3. Factors influencing moisture movement
and results gradients within the solid
Note: The critical moisture content increases as
the drying rate increases and as the thickness of
the mass of the material being dried increases

Equilibrium Moisture content:

-The limiting moisture to which a given material

can be dried under specific conditions of
temperature and humidity

-If a hygroscopic material is maintained in

contact with air at constant temp and humidity
until equilibrium is reached, the material will
attain a definite moisture content called the
equilibrium moisture content.

 Hygroscopic Material – one that may

contain bound moisture
 Bound Moisture- the liquid which exerts
a vapor pressure less than that of the
pure liquid at the given temperature.
 Nonhygroscopic Materials – non porous
materials ; moisture content is zero at
all temperatures and humidities

Organic Materials:

1. Wood
2. Paper
3. Soap

Free Moisture Content

-Moisture held in excess of the equilibrium

moisture content

-Liquid removable at a given temperature and

humidity

-Can be obtained from the total average

moisture content minus the equilibrium
moisture content for the specified drying
conditions.