ASAE S448 DEC98
Thin-Layer Drying of Grains and Crops
Developed by the ASAE Grain and Feed Processing and Storage
Committee; approved by the Food and Process Engineering Institute
Standards Committee; adopted by ASAE December 1993; reaffirmed for
one year December 1998.
1 Purpose and scope
1.1 The purpose of this Standard is to provide a unified procedure for
determining and presenting the drying characteristics of grains and
crops.
1.2 The drying data determined and presented according to this
Standard can be used in characterizing the drying rate of product,
product drying computer simulation, performance testing of drying
equipment, and product quality evaluations.
1.3 This Standard applies specifically to grains and crops that are dried
by forced air convection.
2 Normative references
The following standard contains provisions which, through reference in
this text, constitutes provisions of this Standard. At the time of
publication, the editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to
revision, and parties to agreements based on this Standard are
encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent
edition of the standard indicated below. Standards organizations maintain
registers of currently valid standards.
ASAE D245.4 DEC93, Moisture Relationships of Grains
3 Definitions
3.1 thin-layer: A layer of material exposed fully to an airstream during
drying. The depth (thickness) of the layer should be uniform and should
not exceed three layers of particles.
3.2 initial moisture content, Mi : Moisture content of a product prior to
the start of drying, expressed as a decimal on a dry basis.
3.3 final moisture content, Mf : Moisture content of a product at the
completion of drying, expressed as a decimal or a dry basis.
3.4 equilibrium moisture content, Me : Moisture content of a product in
equilibrium with mean dry bulb temperature and relative humidity of the
drying air, expressed as a decimal on a dry basis. Equations given in
ASAE D245 should be used whenever possible.
4 General requirements
4.1 Start-up. Tests should be conducted after drying equipment has
reached steady-state conditions. Steady state is achieved when the
approaching airstream temperature variation about the set-point is less
than or equal to 1 °C and approaching airstream relative humidity
variation about the set point is less than or equal to 3 percentage points.
4.2 Sample. The sample shall be clean and representative in particle
size. It shall be free from broken, cracked, weathered, and immature
particles and other materials that are not inherently part of the product.
The sample should preferably have its natural moisture content. In the
absence of a fresh sample, the moisture content of the sample may be
reconstituted either by wetting with water spray or by conditioning in a
humid environment. Reconstituted samples shall be conditioned at room
temperature in a sealed container for at least 24 h. Water should not be
added directly to the sample if this causes physical or chemical changes
that significantly affect drying rate of the product. In such cases,
reconstituting the sample by placing it in a humid environment is
ASAE STANDARDS 1999
preferred. A dried sample should be reconstituted only once. Frozen
samples should be thawed and used only once.
4.3 Drying. Particles in the thin layer should be exposed fully to the
airstream. The airstream approaching the sample should be as uniform
as possible in temperature and humidity at a given cross section parallel
to the thin layer so that the air contacts sample particles uniformly. Care
should be exercised to prevent displacement of particles in the thin-layer
holder during a test. This situation may arise in a vertical thin-layer in
which airstream flows horizontally through the product, or in a horizontal
thin-layer in which airstream flows upward through the product. The air
velocity approaching the product should be at least 0.3 m/s.
4.4 Measurements. Nearly continuous recording of the sample mass
loss during drying is required. The corresponding records of particle
temperature (surface or internal) are optional but preferred. The time
interval between recordings depends on the mean dry bulb air
temperature. Higher temperatures require shorter time intervals between
readings. A typical time interval for drying with 60 °C dry-bulb air
temperature is as follows: every 5 s during the first 5 min, every 1 min
during the next hour, and every 15 min thereafter. It is recommended to
divert the airflow away from the sample occasionally to record the sample
mass with no airflow. This ‘‘no airflow’’ mass should be determined 3 to
4 times during a drying test. Other parameters such as mean dry bulb air
temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity should be measured
occasionally to assure consistent operation of the dryer.
4.5 Accuracy of measurements. Temperature sensors shall be
accurate to 6 1 °C. Mass shall be measured with an accuracy of 0.2%
of sample mass so that the calculated moisture content is within 0.002
(decimal dry basis) of the product’s actual moisture content. Relative
humidity may be measured directly or computed from measurements of
dry bulb temperature and wet bulb (or dew point) temperature; it shall be
accurate to within 6 3 percentage points. The air velocity measurement
shall be accurate within 6 5%.
4.6 Duration of experiment. In most cases the experiment should
continue until the moisture ratio, MR, defined in clause 6 equals 0.05. Me
should be determined experimentally or numerically from equation in 3.4.
5 Reporting
5.1 Sample identification shall consist of
— type (preferably botanical name) and variety;
— year;
— location of harvest;
— harvest moisture content;
— storage conditions and history;
— sample purity;
— sample preparation (see 4.2).
5.2 Drying conditions used shall be specified. These conditions include:
— initial and final moisture contents (decimal, dry basis);
— drying time (h, min or s);
— approaching air velocity (m/s);
— mean dry bulb temperature (°C);
— relative humidity (%).
All air-condition data shall include mean and standard deviations
computed for the duration of the drying test.
5.3 Drying rate data reported shall consist of either of the following two
581
forms: appears to be an inadequate representation of the drying behavior of
— the numerical values of moisture content versus time; most crops especially in high temperature drying applications (dry bulb
air temperature higher than 40 °C for grains).
— the estimated values of k and n including standard errors of
estimates in Page’s equation 5.5 Previously determined values of k and n are reported in table 1 for
grain products. The range of test conditions is also shown. For those
products for which equation 2 was found in the literature, it is assumed
M2Me
MR 5 5exp~ 2 kt n ! (1) n equals 1.
M i2 M e

The units for parameters k and n shall be consistent with the unit of t (h, 6 Notation
min, or s) and shall include the standard deviation of each. The range of 6.1 The following notation is used in this Standard:
equation 1 (ranges of temperature, relative humidity, and moisture — A constant;
content) shall be clearly stated. See 3.6 for the duration of experiment.
If drying is terminated prior to MR equals 0.05, the ending moisture — B constant;
content on which the model is based should be specified. — d . b . dry basis;
5.4 Reporting additional forms of drying equations such as those — k constant;
involving diffusion theories is optional. The simple first order equation
— M instantaneous moisture content, decimal dry basis;
M2Me — Mi initial moisture content, decimal dry basis;
MR 5 5exp~ 2 kt ! (2)
M i2 M e — M e equilibrium moisture content, decimal dry basis;

Table 1 – Constants k and n in the thin-layer drying equations 1 and 2. Equations and constants are given for other drying models (see notation in clause
6).

t
Product Constants unit Range Source

Barley k 50.0462 exp(0.0154T ) min 50< T <150 Bruce (1985)

n 50.49213.8431025 ( T 2123) 2 0.215< M i <0.41
Corn k 5exp(27.173511.2793 ln T10.1378v ) h 2.2<T<71.1 Misra and Brooker (1980)
n 50.0811 ln(rh)10.78 M i 3< rh <83
0.18< M i <0.60
Grass (fresh ryegrass) k 50.3431023 exp(0.02028T ) s T <200 O’Callaghan et al. (1971)
n 51
Lentils k 50.18262610.0043T h 23< T <80 Tang et al. (1989)
n 5 20.527 5< rh <70
Peanut pods (Virginia type) k 5exp(20.78052320.144026T 10.35831022 T 2 1 h 27< T <35 Kulasiri et al. (1989)
2.13941rh 10.71599M i 20.137131T rh ) 26< rh <47
n 50.9886720.019836T 20.60831023 T 2 21.033613 0.59< M i 0.77
rh20.6382401M i 10.0499769T rh
Canola k 51.355220.00301M i 20.00751T 20.5112v h 30< T <60 Patil and Ward (1989)
n 50.506820.0015M i 10.0103T 20.2440v 0.21<v<0.53
13.7< M i <0.25
Rice, rough k 50.0295820.4456rh 10.01215T h 32< T <51 Agrawal and Singh (1977)
n 50.1336511.93653rh 21.77431rh 2 10.009468T 19< rh <85
Rice, parboiled MR 50.134 exp(253105 kt )10.586 exp(253104 t ) h 17.3< T <40.2 Byler and Brook (1984)
1 0.28 exp(283103 kt ), k 5 exp(23590/[ T 1 273]) 25< rh <51
Sorghum t 5 A ln MR1B(ln MR)2 h 26.5< T <71 Paulsen and Thompson (1973)
A 5225.8710.335420.001075T 2 71< T <115.5
A 50.05420.0017T 26.5< T <115.5
B 530.5 exp(20.018T )
Soybeans k 50.03310.0003T min 32< T <49 Hutchinson and Otten (1982)
n 50.374410.00916T rh 34< rh <65
Sunflower (oilseed) k 55.6631024 T 1.271 min 27< T <93 Li et al. (1987)
n 50.828120.004T 10.000091T M i 0.26< M i <0.33
Walnuts k 5exp(20.68110.011M i 10.952 ln(Mi )1 h 27< T <43.2 Anigbankpu et al. (1980)
0.000152(1.8T 132) 2 25< rh <76
n 51
Wheat k 5139.3 exp(24426/[ T 1273]) s T <100 O’Callaghan et al. (1971)
n 51
White beans k 50.046620.0104rh min 32< T <49 Hutchinson and Otten (1982)
n 50.400210.00728rh T 34< rh <65

582 ASAE STANDARDS 1999

 — MR moistureratio5 M 2 M e / M i 2 M ; — T temperature, °C;
— n constant; — t time, s, min, h;
— rh relative humidity, %; — v air velocity, m/s.

Annex A Kulasiri, D. G., D. H. Vaughan, J. S. Cundiff and W. F. Wilcke. 1989. Thin

(informative) layer drying rates of Virginia type peanuts. ASAE Paper No. 89-6600.
Bibliography Li, Y., V. Morey and M. Afinrud. 1987. Thin layer drying rates of oilseed
sunflower. Transactions of the ASAE 30(4):1171–1175, 1180.
Misra, M. K. and D. B. Brooker. 1980. Thin layer drying and rewetting
The following documents are cited as reference sources used in
equations for shelled yellow corn. Transactions of the ASAE 23(5):1254–
development of this Standard:
1260.
Anigbankpu, C. S., T. R. Rumsey, and J. F. Thompson. 1980. Thin layer
O’Callaghan, J. R., D. J. Menzies and P. H. Bailey. 1971. Digital
drying and equilibrium moisture content equations for Ashley walnuts.
simulation of agricultural drier performance. J. Agric. Engng. Res.
ASAE Paper No. 80-6507.
16:223–244.
Agrawal, Y. C. and R. D. Singh. 1977. Thin layer drying studies for short
Paulsen, M. R. and T. L. Thompson. 1973. Drying analysis of grain
grain rice. ASAE Paper No. 77-3531.
sorghum. Transactions of the ASAE 16(3):537–540.
Bruce, D. M. 1985. Exposed layer barley drying: three models fitted to
Patil, B. G. and G. T. Ward. 1989. Heated air drying of rapeseed.
new data up to 150 °C. J. Agric. Engng. Res. 32:337–347.
Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 20(4):52–
Byler, R. K. and R. C. Brook. 1984. Thin layer model, temperature and 58.
relative humidity variable. ASAE Paper No. 84-2535.
Tang, J., S. Sokhansanj and F. W. Sosulski. 1989. Thin-layer drying of
Hutchinson, D. and L. Otten. 1982. Thin layer drying of soybeans and lentil. ASAE Paper No. 89-6540.
white beans. ASAE/CSAE Paper No. 82-104.

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