Exercises for Drying

Exercise 1: Psychrometric chart

Air at 1 atm, 200 oF, and a relative humidity of 15% enters a direct-heat dryer. Determine the
following from the psychrometric chart. (a) wet-bulb temperature; (b) humidity; (c) humid
volume.

Exercise 2: Amount of moisture evaporated and equilibrium moisture content

Nitrocellulose fibers with an initial total water content of 40 wt% (dry basis) are dried in trays in
a tunnel dryer operating at 1 atm. If the 100 kg of wet fibers are brought to equilibrium with air
at 25 oC and a relative humidity of 30%, determine the kg of moisture evaporated. The
equilibrium-moisture content of the fibers is in Figure 18.24.

Exercise 3: Drying of filter cake (cross-circulation)

Slabs of filter cake with a bone-dry density of 1,600 kg/m3 are to be dried from an initial free-
moisture content of 110% (dry basis) to a final free-moisture content of 5% (dry basis) batchwise
in trays that are 1 m long by 0.5 m wide, with a depth of 3 cm. Drying will take place from the
top surface only. The drying air conditions are 1 atm, 200 oF, and a 100 oF wet-bulb temperature.
The air velocity across the trays is 3.5 m/s. Experiments under these drying conditions show a
critical free-moisture content of 70% (dry basis), with a linear falling-rate period from Xc to X*.
Determine: (a) drying time for the constant-rate period; (b) drying time for the falling-rate period.

Exercise 4: Drying of extrusion (through-circulation)

The filter cake of Exercise 3 is extruded into cylindrical shaped pieces measuring 1/4 inch in
diameter by 3/8 inch long that are placed in trays that are 6 cm high  1 m long  0.5 m wide and
through which the air passes. The external porosity (voidage) is 50%. If the superficial air
velocity, at the same conditions as in Exercise 3, is 1.75 m/s, determine: (a) drying time for the
constant-rate period; (b) time for the falling-rate period.

Exercise 5: Liquid diffusion theory

A piece of hemlock wood measuring 15.15  14.8  0.75 cm is to be dried from the two large
faces from an initial total moisture content of 90% to a final average total moisture content of 10%
(both dry basis), for drying taking place in the falling-rate period with liquid-diffusion
controlling. The moisture diffusivity has been experimentally determined as 1.710-6 cm2/s.
Estimate the drying time if bone-dry air is used.