Effect of Distributor-Orifice on Drying Kinetics in a Fluidized Bed Drier (EDODKFBD)

Abstract

The drying characteristics of tea-particles have been analyzed in a fluidized bed drier with different orifice sizes while keeping the number of orifices constant. The experiment has been conducted in a fluidized bed drier having 5 cm inner diameter and 80 cm height with four number of distributors of different orifice sizes. In each experimental run the tea-particles have initial moisture content of 13.38 % on dry weight basis. The initial static bed height and air flow rate are kept constant. Hot air is used as the heating medium, air temperatures are varied for 40, 50 and 60 degree centigrade in the present study. The weight of the tea-particles is measured in 10 minute time interval for total drying time of 130 minutes. The amounts of moisture removed are calculated each time. The drying constants are calculated for different distributors for different temperatures. The experimental results show that the drying rate increases with the orifice size up to a specific limit, after which it starts to fall thereby indicating the effect of other pre-dominant parameters.