Design analysis of continuous counter-current deep bed drying of corn through modeling and simulation and validation with experiment

A mathematical model and a simulation C-program has been developed for the Deep Bed Drying process considering counter-current grain drying as the point of focus.. Diffusion in grain has been considered, and a Single Kernel drying rate equation is used for predicting the variation of moisture content within the grain. The modeling of heat transfer and mass transfer between air and grains in a dryer bed is based on the application of enthalpy balance, mass balance, heat transfer rate, mass transfer rate and the diffusion equation for a single kernel. These equations obtained are highly implicit in nature and need to be solved simultaneously. The results have been generated for drying of corn and are found to be consistent with the expected behaviour. The simulation program developed is fairly general and can be used for any spherical particulate material. The detailed performance prediction results can be used to arrive at an optimum design. Also, optimum performance from an existing dryer design can be obtained by judicious selection of input parameter.