Drying of Industrial Sanitary Ware at Low Temperature: A Theoretical and Experimental Investigation

Abstract

Sanitary ware, including toilets, washbasins, and bathtub, plays a crucial role in maintaining hygiene and sanitation in various settings. The drying process is a critical stage in the manufacturing of ceramic sanitary ware, as it influences product quality, production efficiency, and energy consumption. Then, the purpose of this work is to investigate the drying of sanitary ware at low temperature by experiments and empirical mathematical models. The idea is to accurately predict moisture loss of the ceramic parts under different operational conditions. Results of the drying kinetics have shown that higher temperatures and lower air relative humidity accelerate the drying process. Also, no cracks or fissures were observed as a result of drying sanitary ware at low temperatures and the two-term model provides the best fit for the dimensionless average moisture content as a function of the time. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the drying process and support the optimization of sanitary ware manufacturing.