Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics-Based Convective Drying Model Applied to Oblate Spheroidal Porous Bodies: A Finite-Volume Analysis

João C. S. Melo, João M. P. Q. Delgado, Wilton P. Silva, Antonio Gilson B. Lima, Ricardo S. Gomez, Josivanda P. Gomes, Rossana M. F. Figueirêdo, Alexandre J. M. Queiroz, Ivonete B. Santos, Maria C. N. Machado, Wanderson M. P. B. Lima and João E. F. Carmo
Additional contact information
João C. S. Melo: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte, Caicó 59300-000, Brazil
João M. P. Q. Delgado: CONSTRUCT-LFC, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Wilton P. Silva: Department of Physics, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
Antonio Gilson B. Lima: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
Ricardo S. Gomez: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
Josivanda P. Gomes: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
Rossana M. F. Figueirêdo: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
Alexandre J. M. Queiroz: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
Ivonete B. Santos: Department of Physics, State University of Paraiba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
Maria C. N. Machado: Department of Chemical, State University of Paraiba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
Wanderson M. P. B. Lima: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
João E. F. Carmo: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-22

Abstract: Commonly based on the liquid diffusion theory, drying theoretical studies in porous materials has been directed to plate, cylinder, and sphere, and few works are applied to non-conventional geometries. In this sense, this work aims to study, theoretically, the drying of solids with oblate spheroidal geometry based on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. Mathematical modeling is proposed to describe, simultaneously, the heat and mass transfer (liquid and vapor) during the drying process, considering the variability of the transport coefficients and the convective boundary conditions on the solid surface, with particular reference to convective drying of lentil grains at low temperature and moderate air relative humidity. All the governing equations were written in the oblate spheroidal coordinates system and solved numerically using the finite-volume technique and the iterative Gauss–Seidel method. Numerical results of moisture content, temperature, liquid, vapor, and heat fluxes during the drying process were obtained, analyzed, and compared with experimental data, with a suitable agreement. It was observed that the areas near the focal point of the lentil grain dry and heat up faster; consequently, these areas are more susceptible to the appearance of cracks that can compromise the quality of the product. In addition, it was found that the vapor flux was predominant during the drying process when compared to the liquid flux.

Keywords: drying; lentil grain; oblate spheroid; modeling; numerical simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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