Drying of solids

Equilibrium moisture content

%HR
Moisture content
Moisture content:
kg of dry solids

Moist solid

Equilibrium moisture: moisture content in equilibrium with air at given relative humidity
Relative humidity

1) More hygroscopic

2) Less hygroscopic

Equilibrium moisture content X*

 Moisture in the solids

100

Bound moisture Unbound

% HR

moisture

Free moisture
HR*

X* moisture Xb Xi
Equilibrium moisture

1) Unbound moisture: moisture present in the solid till it exerts vapor pressure of pure water
2) Bound moisture: moisture present in the solid that exerts vapor pressure less than pure water
3) Equilibrium moisture: moisture in equilibrium with air at %HR
4) Free moisture: moisture in excess of equilibrium moisture
 Drying rate curve

Hot air

Moist air

Internal diffusion
resistance to
moisture
controls
Drying rate

Transport Rapid transport

resistance of moisture from
offered inside inside to the
and outside the surface
solid controls

Moisture contet
 Equipments for drying
Direct heat Indirect heat
1) Batch 1) Batch
2) Continuous 2) Continuous

Heating medium
1) Air
2) Steam
3) Pure Nitrogen
 Drying time calculations

Drying rate N
Hot air

Moist air

Moisture content X

Ws = mass of bone dry solid

a = drying area
X = moisture content in solid at any time
N = drying rate

kg of moisture
 
m2s
 Drying time

Drying rate N
  -

Moisture content X
 Problem
A wet solid of 28% moisture is to be dried to 0.5% moisture in a tray dryer.
A laboratory test shows that it required 8 hrs to reduce the moisture content
of the same solid to 2%. The crytical moisture content is 6% and equilibrium
moisture content is 0.2%. The falling rate of drying is linear in the free moisture
content. Calculate the drying time required if the conditions similar to experimental
are maintained. All moistures are expressed as per cent of bone dry mass of the solid.