Tutorial 9: 25-03-2019

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Make suitable assumptions

2. A wet solid having 32% moisture (dry basis) is to be dried on a tray drier to final moisture
of 1%. The solid loading is 30kg dry solid per 𝑚2 tray area. There are two critical moisture
values, 0.183 and 0.097. A laboratory test gives drying rate of 4𝑘𝑔/𝑚2 ℎ in the constant rate
period. The drying rate is 2𝑘𝑔/𝑚2 ℎ when the moisture content of solid is 0.097. In the first
falling rate period, the drying flux is linear in moisture content. The equilibrium moisture is
negligible. Calculate the drying time if drying conditions are same as in the laboratory set up.
Mention the assumptions made.

3. A granular wet solid is taken on a tray (1m x 0.6m) and dried in a stream of hot air (120𝑜 𝐶;
humidity 0.02 kg/kg dry air, velocity = 4.5 𝑚/𝑠 ). The initial moisture content of 28% (dry
basis) is to be reduced to 0.5% (dry basis). From laboratory tests it is known that the critical
moisture content is 12% (dry basis) and the equilibrium moisture content is negligible. The
falling rate of drying is linear in the moisture content. If the solid loading (dry basis) is
35𝑘𝑔/𝑚2 , calculate the drying time. A laboratory test gives drying rate of 1392𝑘𝑔/𝑚2 𝑠.

Source: Mass Transfer Operations by Treybal

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