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DRYING
Compilation of Lectures and Solved Problems
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 2
DRYING
DRYING
- is the removal of relatively small amounts of solvent, at temperatures below its boiling
point, by circulating air or some other gas over the material in order to carry away the
solvent vapor.
- This is an adiabatic (constant enthalpy) drying process in which heat required for the
vaporization of solvent comes solely from the sensible heat of the frying medium
- In the usual drying or dehumidification process, water is the solvent and air is the
drying medium. The drying process cools the air adiabatically at a constant wet bulb.
The dry bulb temperature approaches the wet bulb temperature and could reach it at
the saturation point.
Expressed as kg moisture per kg wet solid or kg moisture per combined kg of dry solid and
moisture.
Bound Moisture
Is the moisture content of a substance which exerts an equilibrium vapor pressure less than
that of the pure liquid at the same temperature; it is the moisture difficult to remove, but
which can be removed only under special conditions
Unbound Moisture
Refers to the moisture content of a substance which exerts an equilibrium vapor pressure
equal to that of the pure liquid at the same temperature.
Is the limiting moisture to which a given material can be dried under specific conditions of
air temperature and humidity; corresponds to bound moisture
Moisture content of a substance in excess of the equilibrium moisture; only free moisture
can be evaporated, and the free moisture content of a solid depends upon the vapor
concentration in the gas
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 3
DRYING
The average moisture content at the end of constant rate drying period or at the start of the
falling rate period
The drying period during which the rate of water removal per unit of drying surface is
constant
The drying period during which the instantaneous drying rate continually decreases
2. Continuous Drying the substance to be dried as well as the gas passes continually
through the equipment; no typically stagewise methods are ordinarily used, and all
operations involve continuous contact of the gas and the drying substance; continuous
dryers are usually operated in steady state fashion
1. Direct Dryers heat is supplied entirely by direct contact of the substance with the hot
gas into which the evaporation takes place
2. Indirect Dryers heat is supplied quite independently of the gas used to carry away the
vaporized moisture
The total heat transferred per unit mass of dry bone solid is:
= + + +
= ( )+ ( ) + + +
+
= + ( )+ +
+
In an adiabatic dryer, the heat transferred to the solids, liquid and vapour, comes from the
cooling of the gas
=
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 5
DRYING
( ; )
Some adiabatic dryers, especially rotary dryers, are conveniently rated in terms of the
number of heat transfer units they contain.
When the initial liquid content of the solids is high and most of the heat transferred is for
vaporization, may be taken as the logarithmic mean difference between the dry bulb and
wet bulb temperatures
( )
= =
( )
= =
( )
( )
= =
( )
=
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 6
DRYING
where:
Falling Constant
Rate Rate
Xe Xf Xc Xi
Where:
1. Constant Rate Period as long as the liquid covers the entire surface of the solid, the
rate of drying is constant. During this period, water diffuses through the solid at a rate
sufficient to keep the entire surface wet
= ( )
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 8
DRYING
( )
=
2. Falling Rate Period when part of the solid surface is no longer wetted by the liquid, the
drying rate decreases. Most of the water escapes by vaporizing at the surface of the
solid
( )
= ( )
( )=
( )
=
( )
=
DRYING EQUIPMENT
a. Tray Dryers
Consists of a rectangular chamber of sheet metal containing two trucks that
supports racks; each rack carries a number of shallow trays that are loaded with
the material to be dried
Heated is circulated at 2 5 m/s between trays by fan and motor and passes
over heaters; air is distributed uniformly over the stack of trays through baffles
Useful on small production rate; they find most frequent application for valuable
products like dyes and pharmaceuticals
c. Tower dryers
Contains a series of circular trays mounted one above the other on a central
rotating shaft
Solid feed is dropped on the topmost tray is exposed to a stream of hot air or gas
that passes across the tray. The solid is then scrapped off and dropped to the
tray below. The flow of solids and gas may be either parallel or counter-current
d. Rotary Dryers
Consists of a revolving cylindrical shell, horizontal or slightly inclined toward
the outlet
Wet feed enters one end of the cylinder; dry material discharges from the other
Rotary dryers are heated by direct contact of gas with the solids, by hot gas
passing through an external jacket, or by steam condensing in a set of
longitudinal tubes mounted on the inner surface of the shell
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 10
DRYING
The allowable mass velocity of the gas in a direct dryer depends on the dusting
characteristics of the solid being dried and ranges from 2,000 to 25,000 kg/m2h
for coarse particles; inlet gas temperatures are typically 120 175C for steam
heated air and 550 - 800C for flue gas from a furnace.
Dryer diameters range from 1 3 m; the peripheral speed of the shell is
commonly 20 25 m/min.
Direct contact rotary dryers are designed on the basis of heat transfer
.
. .
= = .
.
.
=
Where:
= rate of heat transfer, BTU/h
= dryer volume, ft3
= dryer length, ft
= average temperature difference, taken as logarithmic mean of wet-blub
depressions at inlet and outlet of the dryers
= mass velovity, lb/ft2h
= dryer diameter, ft
= volumetric heat transfer coefficient, BTU/ft3hF
Where:
= heat transfer coefficient between and gas and solid, BTU/ft2hF
= particle diameter, ft
= thermal conductivity at mean film temperature, BTU/fthF
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 11
DRYING
g. Flash Dryers
Wet pulverized solid is transported for a few seconds in a hot gas stream
The rate of heat transfer from the gas to the suspended solid particles is high
and drying is rapid so that no more than 3 or 4 s is required to evaporate
substantially all the moisture from the solid
Flash drying may be applied to sensitive materials that in other dryers would
have to be dried indirectly by a much cooler heating medium
a. Spray Dryers
A slurry or liquid solution is dispersed into a stream of hot gas in the form of a
mist of fine droplets. Moisture is rapidly vaporized from the droplets, leaving
residual particles of dry solid, which are then separated from the gas stream.
The flow of liquid and gas may be co-current, counter current or a combination
of both in the same unit
Droplets are formed inside a cylindrical drying chamber by pressure nozzles,
two-fluid nozzles, or, in large dryers, high speed spray disks
An equation for the volume-surface mean diameter of the drops from a disk
atomizer is:
. . .
= .
Where:
= average drop diameter, m or ft
= disk radius, m or ft
= spray mass rate per unit length of disk periphery, kg/ms or lb/fts
= surface tension of liquid, kg/m3 or lb/ft3
= disk speed, r/s
= viscosity of liquid, Pas or lb/fts
= disk periphery, 2r, m or ft
c. Drum Dryers
Consist of one or more heated metal rolls on the outside of which a thin layer of
liquid is evaporated to dryness. Dried solid is scraped off the rolls as they slowly
revolve
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 12
DRYING
PROBLEM # 01.
A hot air dryer handles 1,000 kg/h of wet feed with a moisture content of 20% wet basis to
reduce the moisture content to 12.5% dry basis. Atmospheric air at 23.9C with a relative
humidity of 60% is preheated to a dry bulb temperature of 82.2C. The exhaust air leaves
the dryer at 60C. Calculate: (a) the volume of the atmospheric air handled by the pre-
heater, and (b) the duty of the pre-heater in kcal/h.
SOLUTION:
Air
23.9 C
60% RH
HEATER
60 C 82.2 C
DRYER
F = 1,000 kg/h
xi=0.20 Xf=0.125
3. Water evaporated
= +
= 1,000 899.9888 = 100.0112
= 0.8516
= 12,821.9487 0.8516
= , .
PROBLEM # 02.
A Proctor & Swartz coconut meat dryer processes 1,133.8 kg of desiccated coconut per
hour. The following are other data:
Specific heat of coconut meat - 0.754 kJ/kgK
Density of coconut meat from the shearing - 1.520 kg/m3
and washing section
Initial moisture content of coconut meat - 20%
Final moisture content of coconut meat - 1.5%
Coconut meat inlet temperature - 21C
Coconut meat outlet temperature - 38C
Drying condition - 71C db
Drying condition RH - 20%
Barometer reading - 89.6 kPa
Compute the heat input to the dryer.
SOLUTION:
Air
RH = 20%
tF = 71 C
DRYER
7. Vaporization temperature
From steam table at 89.6 kPa drying operation
= 96.48
11. Sensible heat to raise temperature of the bone dry solid from vaporization temperature
(96.48C) to final product temperature (38C)
= ,
12. Sensible heat to raise temperature of water remaining in the material from vaporization
temperature (96.48C) to final product temperature (38C)
= ,
PROBLEM # 03.
Ipil-ipil leaves will be dried in a moving train of tray dryers. The wet leaves containing 75%
water (wet basis) is to be dried to 15% (wet basis) in trays measuring 1 m x 1.5 m. The wet
leaves are spread out in the tray to a uniform thickness of 8 cm. Calculate:
a) The number of trays needed to produce 1 metric ton of the dried leaves
b) The amount of water removed/MT of product. The density of the wet leaves is 0.75 g/cc
c) If dry hot air at 20% RH and a dry bulb temperature of 110F is blown into the dryer
and moist air leaves at 105F dry bulb and 86F wet bulb temperatures, how many ft3 of
dry hot air will be needed per MT of product?
SOLUTION:
Air
110 F
20% RH
db = 105 F
wb = 86 F
DRYER
xi=0.75
P = 1 MT
xf=0.15
1. Weight of feed
(1 ) = 1
(1 0.15)(1,000 )
= = 3,400
(1 0.75)
# =
3,400
750
# =
0.12
# = . ~
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 19
DRYING
3. kg water removed
= +
= 3,400 1,000 = 2,400
= ,
2,400
= = 200,000
(0.023 0.011)
= 14.3
= 14.5544
PROBLEM # 04.
A wet material from a process plant containing 100% (dry basis) moisture has to be dried
to produce a product with 10% moisture. Heated air at 100C and 10% relative humidity is
being supplied to the dryer and leaves at 60C and a dew point of 52.5C. Part of the outlet
air is re-circulated and mixed with ambient air at 30C and 70% relative humidity.
Neglecting heat losses due to radiation to the surroundings and pre-heating of the solid
materials and its receptacle, calculate: (a) volume of ambient air, m3/min, and (b)
percentage of the outlet air re-circulated and mixed with ambient air when producing 500
kg/h of product.
SOLUTION:
Air
30 C 1
70% RH
db = 60 C R
Dew pt = 52.5 C
4 3 2 100 C
10% RH
DRYER
Xi=1.00
1. Feed rate
Consider dry material balance
(1 ) = 1
1
= = = 0.50
1+ 1+1
0.10
= = = 0.0909
1+ 1 + 0.10
(1 0.0909) 500
= = 909.0909
(1 0.50)
= 0.8844
.
= .
PROBLEM # 05.
An adiabatic tunnel dryer reduces the moisture content of pineapple stumps used as a fuel
in the boiler of a pineapple cannery. Ambient air is heated and blown through the tunnel
dryer countercurrent to the flow of pineapple stumps. The operating conditions are:
Calculate: (a) the quantity of moisture removed from the pineapple stumps in MT/day; (b)
the humidity of the inlet air; (c) the temperature of the air leaving the dryer; (d) the volume
of ambient air needed for drying in m3/h
SOLUTION:
Ambient Air
T1 = 29.4 C
80% RH
100% RH T2 = 76.9 C
HEATER
DRYER
F = 100 MT/day
Xi = 1.0 Xf = 0.30
2. Moisture removed
= +
= 100 65.0026
= .
= .
Temperature of the outlet air, outlet air humidity and amount of air needed are all inter-
connected, thus the remaining questions can be solved only by trial and error.
a. Assume value of outlet air dry bulb temperature
b. Using the psychrometric chart (figure 19.2) with wet bulb temperature of 97F,
determine the air outlet humidity
c. To check if assumption is correct, solve for humidity considering 100% RH, wherein
=
=
( )
d. If humidity from (b) is approximately the same as that from (c), then assumption is
correct; if otherwise, make new assumptions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 25
DRYING
= 0.8841
.
= , .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 26
DRYING
PROBLEM # 06.
10 short tons/h of crushed coal with 15.1% moisture (wet basis) is to be dried to 5%
moisture (wet basis) in a counter-current continuous rotary dryer using hot air entering the
dryer at 180F, 10% relative humidity and leaves at 40% RH. How much hot air, in ft3/min
will be needed for the operation? Assume adiabatic operation.
SOLUTION:
Hot Air
T1 = 180 F
40% RH 10% RH
DRYER
F = 10 short ton/h
xi = 0.151 xf = 0.05
2. Moisture removed
= +
= 10 9.8368 = 1.0632
7. Air requirement
= ( )
2,000
1.0632
= = 186,526.3158
(0.045 0.0336)
= 16.1
= 16.9723
= , .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 28
DRYING
PROBLEM # 07.
Adiabatic tunnel dryer handles 100 kg of banana chips per batch reducing the moisture
content from 50% to 12%, all on wet basis. Drying takes 10 hours to complete by blowing
air at 82C and 5% RH. The air leaves the dryer saturated. Assuming that the drying rate is
constant, calculate: (a) exit temperature of the air; (b) volume of air blown, in m3/h
SOLUTION:
Air
T1 = 82 C
100% satd 5% RH
DRYER
F = 100 kg
xi = 0.50 xf = 0.12
2. Moisture removed
= +
= 100 56.8182 = 43.1818
= 16.15
PROBLEM # 08.
A dryer is to deliver 1,000 kg/h of palay with a final moisture content of 10%. The initial
moisture content in the feed is 15% at atmospheric conditions with 32C dry bulb and 21C
wet bulb. The dryer is maintained at 45C while the relative humidity of the hot humid air
from the dryer is 80%. If the steam pressure supplied to the heater is 2 MPa, determine: (a)
palay supplied to the dryer in kg/h; (b) temperature of the hot humid air from the dryer; (c)
air supplied to the heater in m3/h; (d) heat supplied by the heater in kW; (e) steam supplied
to the heater in kg/h
SOLUTION:
Air
TDB = 32 C
TWB = 21 C
80% RH T2 = 45 C
HEATER
DRYER
F = 1,000 kg/h
xi = 0.15 xf = 0.10
= , .
2. Moisture removed
= +
= 1,058.8235 1,000 = 58.8235
= 13.8
= 10,319.9123 0.8775
= , .
32,734.7618
=
451.6329
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 33
DRYING
PROBLEM # 09.
A rotary dryer fired with bunker oil of 10,000 kcal/kg heating value (HHV) is to produce 20
MT/h of dried sand with 0.5% moisture from a wet feed containing 7% moisture. Specific
heat of sand is 0.21 BTU/lbR. Temperature of wet sand is 30C and temperature of dried
product is 115C. Determine: (a) weight of wet feed; (b) weight of water to be removed in
kg/h; (c) heat required; (d) liters of bunker oil per hour if specific gravity of bunker oil is
0.90 and efficiency is 60%.
SOLUTION:
Assume water starts to evaporate at 100C
1. Weight of wet feed
(1 ) = 1
(1 0.005) 20,000
=
(1 0.07)
= , .
2. Water removed
= +
= 21,397.8495 20,000
= , .
9. Sensible heat to raise temperature of water in the product from 100 to 115C
= ,
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 35
DRYING
PROBLEM # 10.
A wet material having a critical moisture content of 15% (db) and an equilibrium moisture
content of 3% (db) took 6 hours to dry from 45% (db) to 5.5% (db). How long will it take
to dry to 15% moisture (db)?
SOLUTION:
Xe Xf Xc Xi
0.03 0.055 0.15 0.45
= +( )
6
=
0.15 0.03
0.45 0.15 + (0.15 0.03) ln
0.055 0.03
= 12.2892
= ( )
= (12.892)(0.15 0.45)
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 36
DRYING
PROBLEM # 11.
Wet solids is to be dried from 36% to 8% moisture in 5 hours under constant drying
conditions, Xc = 14%, Xe = 4%. Calculate how much longer it would take under the same
drying conditions to dry the same materials from 8% to 5.5% moisture. All moisture
contents are on dry basis.
SOLUTION:
Xe Xf Xf Xc Xi
0.04 0.055 0.08 0.14 0.36
PROBLEM # 12.
Glazed banana chips are dried to its equilibrium moisture content of 12.28% by wt (wet
basis) in a tunnel dryer under constant air temperature and humidity in a batch process.
Control tests give the following data on the process:
From these data, (a) determine the critical moisture content of the banana chips, % wt dry
basis; (b) formulate the falling rate equation for the drying operations.
SOLUTION:
Basis: 1 m2 drying area
x X* Ave X X , min R
0.2308 0.3001
0.2751 0.0501 30 0.00167
0.2000 0.2500
0.2250 0.0500 30 0.00167
0.1667 0.2000
0.1863 0.0274 30 0.00091
0.1472 0.1726
0.1624 0.0204 30 0.00068
0.1321 0.1522
0.1509 0.0026 30 0.00009
0.1301 0.1496
1
= ; =
1
Plot X vs R
0.001
0.0008
0.0006
Falling rate equation
0.0004 = . .
0.0002
0
0.15 0.17 0.19 0.21 0.23 0.25 0.27 0.29
PROBLEM # 13.
A batch of wet solid was dried on a tray dryer using constant drying conditions and a
thickness of material on the tray of 25.4 mm. Only the top surface was exposed. The drying
rate during the constant rate period was R = 2.05 kg H2O/hm2. The ratio of LS/A used was
24.4 kg dry solid/m2 exposed surface. The initial free moisture was X1 = 0.55 and the
critical moisture content XC = 0.22 kg free moisture/kg dry solid. Calculate the time to dry a
batch of this material from X1 = 0.45 to X2 = 0.30 using the same drying conditions but a
thickness of 50.8 mm, with the drying from the top and bottom surfaces.
SOLUTION:
Assume 1 m2 cross-sectional area of dry solid
1. Volume of dry solid at condition 1
= = (1 )(0.0254 ) = 0.0254
=
(48.8000 )
= (0.30 0.45)
(2 1 ) 2.05
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 39
DRYING
PROBLEM # 14.
In commercial practice, rayon-yarn skeins are dried after centrifuging, and the drying
occurs in the falling rate period. Experimental data for the drying of a certain type of yarn
under constant air-drying conditions have been correlated by the following equation:
. (
= 0.00302 )
where:
= Rate of drying, lb H2O evaporated / lb of dry yarn hour
= Wet air mass velocity, lb wet air/hft2
= Saturation humidity at wet-bulb temperature of the air
= Humidity of air
= Free moisture content of yarn, lb water/lb dry yarn
A compartment dryer at 1 atm is to be used to dry the yarn from 0.80 to 0.01 lb free water
per lb dry yarn. The operation will be conducted under conditions approximating constant
drying conditions. The average conditions of the air passing over the yarn are to be:
Dry bulb temperature = 150F
% Relative Humidity = 10
Air velocity = 600 fpm
The equilibrium moisture content of the yarn for the above conditions is 0.036 lb water per
lb dry yarn.
(a) determine the lbs of water evaporated per 100 lb of dry yarn; (b) final moisture content
of the yarn; (c) determine the time required for drying.
SOLUTION:
1. Water evaporated
= (100 )(0.80 0.01)
= .
3. Air humidity
From figure 12-3 (CHE HB 8th edition), for air at 150F and 10% RH
= 0.016
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 40
DRYING
= 15.3
= 15.6959
9. Drying time
. (
= 0.00302 )
.
= 0.00302 (2,330.2855) (0.031 0.016)
= 4.0382
=
=
= 4.0382
.
1
=
4.0382 .
0.01
= 0.2476 ln
0.8
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 41
DRYING
PROBLEM # 15.
In a pilot process, mashed potatoes are dried in pans inch deep which are insulated on
the bottom. Drying air is at 180F with a 10% relative humidity. Drying from an initial
moisture content of 0.15 lb/lb dry solid requires 6 hours. All drying is in the falling rate
period and is diffusion controlled. The equilibrium moisture content is 0.1 lb/lb dry solid
when in contact with air at this temperature and humidity. Bulk density of the product is
0.75 g/cc.
In the plant process, the potatoes are to be dried from the same initial moisture content as
in the pilot process to a final moisture content of 0.25 lb/lb dry solid. The process will take
place in a pan dryer with pans 2-in deep but with perforated metal bottoms so that drying
occurs from both faces. If the drying air conditions are controlled to duplicate those in the
pilot dryer, what drying time will be required?
SOLUTION:
For the pilot process: assume pan cross sectional area of 1 ft2
For the plant process: assume same pan cross-sectional area of 1 ft2
4. Volume of dry solid
= = (1 ) 2 = 0.1667
12
PROBLEM # 16.
Under a constant drying condition a dryer produces 1,080 kilos of 8% wet from a 50% wet
material in 6 hours. The critical moisture content of this material is 16%. In the market,
this product could be sold under 2 classes as follows:
The plant must operate on a continuous 24 hours basis and spends PhP 80 daily for heat,
power, labor, fixed charges, etc. if the raw material usually arrives at an average of 50%
moisture content and costs PhP 0.12 per kilo received, which grade will you produce? (%
are in dry basis). Do not assume any change in the construction and operating conditions,
except the rate of feed.
SOLUTION:
For FRP:
( )
=
Assume Xe = 0
= ln
= ( )+ ln
= + ln
= + ln
8 100
= 1,080 = 1,000
(100 + 8) 8
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 44
DRYING
1,000 0.16
= 0.50 0.16 + 0.16 ln
6 0.08
= 75.1506
= + ln
1,000 0.16
= 0.50 0.16 + 0.16 ln = 5.7492
0.09
75.1506
4. Total Sales
0.20 910.04
= 4,550.1983 =
7. Revenue
= ( + )
910.04 751.41 80
= +
= 78.63
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 45
DRYING
= + ln
1,000 0.16
= 0.50 0.16 + 0.16 ln = 7.0001
0.05
75.1506
13. Revenue
= ( + )
827.92 617.13 80
= +
= 130.79
PROBLEM # 17.
A 25% solution of a certain soap is fed at 175F to a double drum dryer (2 ft diameter by 4
ft long) being heated by steam at 40 psig. The drums are rotated at 5 rpm. In 30 minutes,
20 lb of product (2% moisture) was obtained. Calculate: (a) capacity of dryer, in lb water
evaporated per sq ft drum area per hour; (b) if the specific gravity of the product was 1.05,
how thick was the soap flakes produced; (c) estimate the steam consumption per hour; (d)
calculate the over-all heat transfer coefficient for this dryer.
SOLUTION:
1. Lb of product produced per hour
20
= = 40
0.50
=2 = 2 (2 )(4 ) = 50.2655
6. Dryer capacity
=
116.8
=
50.2655
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 47
DRYING
9. Steam requirement
Assume that the steam requirement is the amount needed to evaporate water from soap
and water is removed at 212F
= ( )+
212 = 970.3
40 = 920.2063
117,652.64
=
920.2063
= .
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 48
DRYING
PROBLEM # 18.
Flourspar (CaF2) is to be dried from 6 to 0.4 percent moisture (dry basis) in a counter-
current adiabatic rotary dryer at a rate of 18,000 lb/h of bone-dry solids. The heating air
enters at 1,000F with a humidity of 0.03 and a wet-bulb temperature of 150F. The solids
have specific heat of 0.48 BTU/lbF; they enter the dryer at 70F and leave at 200F. The
maximum allowable mass velocity of the air is 2,000 lb/ft2h. (a) what would be the
diameter and length of the dryer if Nt = 2.2? Is this a reasonable design? (c) repeat part a if
Nt = 1.8.
SOLUTION:
Assume water is vaporized at 212F
2,253,758.4
= = 11,739.695
0.254 (244.1827 1,000)
11,739.695
= = 5.8698
2,000
= .
For Nt = 1.8
1. Temperature of outlet air
Using equation 24.8 (McCabe, et al)
= ln
1,000 150
= .
+ 150 = 290.5041
12,506.1534
= = 6.2531
2,000
5. Dryer diameter
=
4
4(6.2531 )
=
= .
6. Length of dryer
Using equation 24.22 (McCabe, et al)
.
= 0.125
2,253,758.4
=
0.125 (2.8216)(2,000) . (394.1644)
= .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 52
DRYING
PROBLEM # 19.
Calculate the mean droplet diameter for a spray dryer with a 6-in rotary atomizer turning at
10,000 rpm. The feed rate is 30 lb/min at 120F. Assume the slurry density is 70 lb/ft3 and
the surface tension is that of water. In scaling up to a larger dryer with a 12-in atomizer,
what rotation should be used to obtain the same droplet size?
SOLUTION:
1. Disk radius
6
= = 0.25
2 12
2. Disk periphery
=2
= 2 (0.25 ) = 1.5708
4. Disk speed
1
= 10,000 = 166.6667
60
8. Droplet size
. . .
= 0.4
.
. 0.3183
= = 0.0104
166.6667
61.71 (0.25 )
.
. 3.7563 10
= = 0.2596
0.3183
.
4.67 10
. 61.71 (1.5708 ) 32.174
= = 1.6435
0.3183
= 0.4(0.0104)(0.2596)(1.6435)
0.25
12 2.54 1
= 4.4372 10
1 10
= .
9. Rotation rate for a 12-in atomizer, with the same droplet size
=
. . .
= 0.4
. . . . . .
0.4 = 0.4
For a change in diameter of disk atomizer,
, , , will remain constant
. 1 . .
. 1 . .
=
. . . .
. .
= . .
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SERIES 54
DRYING
. .
. .
=
. . . .
1 1
. . . = . . .
1 1
. . .
= . . .
(2 ) (2 )
1 1
. .
= . .
( ) =( )
.
=
.
6
= (10,000 )
12
= , .
PROBLEM # 20.
If the rate of drying under constant drying conditions with air at 140F and absolute
humidity of 0.03 lb water per lb dry air of unknown mass of solid is given by:
= 0.5
SOLUTION: