ASSESSMENT OF STEAM OPERATED SPRAY DRYERS.

Abstract

The performance of a spray dryer using steam in lieu of air is modeled numerically to assess the feasibility of steam as a drying medium. The numerical predictions suggest that steam is the more effective drying medium because of the higher heat transfer coefficient and specific heat. The higher heat transfer coefficient augments the gas-droplet heat transfer rate while the higher specific heat results in a smaller depression in the medium temperature due to droplet-gas thermal coupling.