Mathematical modeling of the fluidized bed drying of cubic materials

Abstract

The unsteady-state simultaneous heat and mass transfer between gas and potato cubes during the drying process in a batch fluidized bed was described by a mathematical model. Mass transfer was considered to occur in three dimensions whereas heat transfer between the gas and dried material was assumed to be lumped. It was found that the model could describe the drying process with acceptable accuracy. The moisture profile inside the material at any cross-section and at any time can be predicted by the model. © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.