MASS TRANSFER OPERATION - 2, 6TH SEM

Chapter 4: Drying
QB – 1: A porous solid is dried in a batch dryer under constant drying conditions. Six hours
are required to reduce the moisture content from 30 to 10%. The critical moisture content was
found to be 16% and the equilibrium moisture 2%. All moisture contents are on the dry basis.
Assuming that the rate of drying during falling rate period is proportional to the free moisture
content, how long should it take to dry a sample of same solid x from 35 to 6% under the same
drying conditions?

ANS:

Case-1:

➢ X1 = 0.3, X2 = 0.1, XC = 0.16, X* = 0.02 (Dry basis)

➢ θ = 6 hours
➢ For both constant and falling rate, (X1 > XC and X2 < XC)

Ss∗(X1 − Xc) Ss∗(Xc − X∗) Xc − X∗

θ= + ln
A∗Nc A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss Xc − X∗
= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss 0.16 − 0.02
6= * [(0.3 – 0.16) + (0.16 – 0.02) ln ]
A∗Nc 0.1 − 0.02

Ss
= 27.48
A∗Nc
Case-2:
➢ Now, X1 = 0.35, X2 = 0.06
➢ So, time for drying
Ss Xc − X∗
θ= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

0.16 − 0.02
= 27.48 * [(0.35 – 0.16) + (0.16 – 0.02) ln ]
0.06 − 0.02

= 10.041 hours

Prepared By: Mr. Mohammedadil Shaikh Page

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION - 2, 6TH SEM
Chapter 4: Drying
QB – 3: A porous solid is dried in a batch dryer under constant drying conditions. Five hours
are required to reduce the moisture content from 35 to 10%. The critical moisture content was
found to be 14% and the equilibrium moisture 4%. All moisture contents are on the dry basis.
Assuming that the rate of drying during falling rate period is proportional to the free moisture
content, how long should it take to dry a sample of same solid from 35 to 6% under the same
drying.

ANS:

Case-1:

➢ X1 = 0.35, X2 = 0.1, XC = 0.14, X* = 0.04 (Dry basis)

➢ θ = 5 hours
➢ For both constant and falling rate, (X1 > XC and X2 < XC)

Ss∗(X1 − Xc) Ss∗(Xc − X∗) Xc − X∗

θ= + ln
A∗Nc A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss Xc − X∗
= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss 0.14 − 0.04
5= * [(0.35 – 0.14) + (0.14 – 0.04) ln ]
A∗Nc 0.1 − 0.04

Ss
= 19.151
A∗Nc
Case-2:
➢ Now, X1 = 0.35, X2 = 0.06
➢ So, time for drying
Ss Xc − X∗
θ= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

0.14 − 0.04
= 19.151 * [(0.35 – 0.14) + (0.14 – 0.04) ln ]
0.06 − 0.04

= 7.104 hours

Prepared By: Mr. Mohammedadil Shaikh Page

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION - 2, 6TH SEM
Chapter 4: Drying
QB – 5: A porous solid is dried in a batch dryer under constant drying conditions. Five hours
are required to reduce the moisture content from 25 to 6%. The critical moisture content was
found to be 14% and the equilibrium moisture 4%. All moisture contents are on the dry basis.
Assuming that the rate of drying during falling rate period is proportional to the free moisture
content, how long should it take to dry a sample of same solid from 20 to 6% under the same
drying conditions?

ANS:

Case-1:

➢ X1 = 0.25, X2 = 0.06, XC = 0.14, X* = 0.04 (Dry basis)

➢ θ = 5 hours
➢ For both constant and falling rate, (X1 > XC and X2 < XC)

Ss∗(X1 − Xc) Ss∗(Xc − X∗) Xc − X∗

θ= + ln
A∗Nc A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss Xc − X∗
= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss 0.14 − 0.04
5= * [(0.25 – 0.14) + (0.14 – 0.04) ln ]
A∗Nc 0.06 − 0.04

Ss
= 18.454
A∗Nc
Case-2:
➢ Now, X1 = 0.20, X2 = 0.06
➢ So, time for drying
Ss Xc − X∗
θ= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

0.14 − 0.04
= 18.454 * [(0.20 – 0.14) + (0.14 – 0.04) ln ]
0.06 − 0.04

= 4.0773 hours

Prepared By: Mr. Mohammedadil Shaikh Page

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION - 2, 6TH SEM
Chapter 4: Drying
QB -6: A 150 kg batch of granular solids containing 32% moisture is to be dried in a tray dryer
to 17 % moisture by passing a current of air at 350 k across its surface at a velocity of 1.8 m/s.
If the constant rate of drying under these conditions is 0.75 x 10 -3 kg/m2s and the critical
moisture content is 15 %. The drying surface is 0.03 m2 /kg dry weight. Calculate the drying
time.

ANS:

➢ Ss = 150 kg
➢ x1 = 0.32, x2 = 0.17, xC = 0.15
➢ Drying surface = 0.03 m2 /kg dry weight
➢ Nc = 0.75 x 10-3 kg/m2s
➢ Now,
𝑥1 0.32
X1 = = = 0.471
1 − 𝑥1 1 − 0.32

𝑥2 0.17
X2 = = = 0.205
1 − 𝑥2 1 − 0.17

𝑥𝑐 0.15
XC = = = 0.1765
1 − 𝑥𝑐 1 − 0.15

A = 0.3*150 = 4.5 m2

➢ Time for drying is given as, (here, XC < X2)

Ss∗(X1 − X2)
θ=
A∗Nc

150∗(0.471 − 0.205)
=
4.5∗0.75∗10−3

= 11822.222 sec

= 3.284 hours

Prepared By: Mr. Mohammedadil Shaikh Page

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION - 2, 6TH SEM
Chapter 4: Drying
QB – 8: A porous solid is dried in a batch dryer under constant drying conditions. Eight hours
are required to reduce the moisture content from 40 % to 10 %. The critical moisture content
was found to be 20 % and equilibrium moisture content 4 %. All moisture content is on dry
basis. Assuming that the rate of drying during falling rate period is proportional to free
moisture content, how long should it take to dry a sample of the same solid from 40 % to 5 %
under the same drying conditions.

ANS:

Case-1:

➢ X1 = 0.40, X2 = 0.1, XC = 0.20, X* = 0.04 (Dry basis)

➢ θ = 8 hours
➢ For both constant and falling rate, (X1 > XC and X2 < XC)

Ss∗(X1 − Xc) Ss∗(Xc − X∗) Xc − X∗

θ= + ln
A∗Nc A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss Xc − X∗
= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss 0.20 − 0.04
8= * [(0.40 – 0.20) + (0.20 – 0.04) ln ]
A∗Nc 0.10 − 0.04

Ss
= 22.4132
A∗Nc
Case-2:
➢ Now, X1 = 0.40, X2 = 0.05
➢ So, time for drying
Ss Xc − X∗
θ= [(X1 – XC) + (XC – X*) ln ]
A∗Nc X2 − X∗

0.20 − 0.04
= 22.4132 * [(0.40 – 0.20) + (0.20 – 0.04) ln ]
0.05 − 0.04

= 14.425 hours

Prepared By: Mr. Mohammedadil Shaikh Page

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION - 2, 6TH SEM
Chapter 4: Drying
QB – 9: 3000 kg dry mass of non-porous solid is dried under constant drying conditions. The
area of drying surface is 60 m2. How long it will take to dry a material from 0.15 to 0.025 kg
water/ kg of dry solids? The equilibrium moisture content is assumed to be zero. The critical
moisture content is 0.125 kg water/kg of dry solids. If initial rate of drying is 3 x 10 -4 kg/m2 s,
assume that the falling rate is linear.

ANS:

➢ Ss = 3000 kg dry
➢ A = 60 m2
➢ X1 = 0.15, X2 = 0.025, XC = 0.125, X* = 0
➢ Nc = 3 x 10-4 kg/m2 s
➢ Now, time for drying
Ss∗(X1 − Xc) Ss∗(Xc − X∗) Xc − X∗
θ= + ln
A∗Nc A∗Nc X2 − X∗

Ss Xc
= [(X1 – XC) + (XC) ln ]
A∗Nc X2

3000 0.125
= [(0.15 – 0.125) + (0.125) ln ]
60∗3∗10−4 0.025

= 37696.623 sec

= 10.4713 hours

Prepared By: Mr. Mohammedadil Shaikh Page

 MASS TRANSFER OPERATION - 2, 6TH SEM
Chapter 4: Drying
QB – 15: 25 cm x 25 cm x 1 cm flat sheet weighing 1.2 kg initially was dried from both
sides under constant drying rate condition. It took 1500 sec for the weight of the sheet to
reduce to 1.05 kg. Another 1 m x 1 m x 1 cm flat sheet of the same material is to be dried
from one side only. Under the same drying rate condition, what is the time required for the
drying (in sec) from its initial weight of 19.2 kg to 17.6 kg?

ANS:

➢ θ1 = 1500 sec, Ss1 = 2*1.2 = 2.4 kg

➢ Ss2 = 19.2 – 17.6 = 1.6 kg,
➢ For constant drying period,
Ss1∗(X1 − Xc)
θ1 =
A∗Nc

(2∗1.2)∗(X1 − Xc)
1500 =
A∗Nc

(X1 − Xc)
= 625
A∗Nc
➢ Now, for second case
Ss2∗(X1 − Xc)
θ2 =
A∗Nc

= (19.2 – 17.6) * (625)

= 1000 sec

Prepared By: Mr. Mohammedadil Shaikh Page