Design and Optimization of a Mixed-Flow Drying Chamber for Tiger Nuts Based on CFD-DEM Heat and Mass Transfer Model

Li Ding, Yufei Dou, Junying Li, Tan Yao, Aobo Ma, Yechao Yuan, Lele Wang and He Li ()
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Li Ding: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yufei Dou: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Junying Li: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Tan Yao: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Aobo Ma: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yechao Yuan: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Lele Wang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
He Li: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-26

Abstract: In order to solve the problem of inconsistent moisture content in particles during the drying process of tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) due to uneven air flow and temperature distribution in the drying chamber, an open-hole corner box was designed based on the principle of negative pressure micro-perforated air supply. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) simulation, coupled with the basic theory of interphase heat and mass transfer, a mathematical model for interphase heat and moisture coupling transfer was established. The effects of different aperture rates of corner boxes in the drying chamber, spatial location arrangement, and other related variables on the airfield distribution, temperature field distribution, tiger nut temperature, and moisture content changes were investigated. The results show that the average air velocity below the air inlet gradually increases as the opening ratio increases. When the opening rate is 0.33%, the wind field uniformity is better, and the inhomogeneity of the drying chamber wind field is improved. As the lateral distance increases, the consistency of the moisture content distribution increases and then decreases, and the flow rate of the tiger nuts gradually increases when the grain is discharged. The rate of decrease in water content decreases gradually with the increase in longitudinal distance. When the wind speed reaches 4 m/s, the drying chamber wind field is more uniform, and the water vapor diffusion efficiency at the outlet is basically the same. Therefore, the appropriate corner box has a horizontal distance of 320 mm and a longitudinal distance of 420 mm, providing a basis for the design of tiger nut drying equipment.

Keywords: CFD-DEM; heat transfer; mass transfer; mixed-flow grain dryers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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