CFD-response surface methodology to optimize the effective thermal conductivity and homogeneity in tray dryer

Tray dryers are usually designed with simplistic scaling rules that do not account for all the transport phenomena associated drying. The use of computational fluid dynamics coupled response surface methodology can be a powerful tool to evaluate how different tray dryer design parameters affect drying process. In this work, two dryers, one lateral air inlet and another bottom inlet, were parameterized position length, distance between trays. A central composite was chosen determine sample points, average turbulence viscosity effective thermal conductivity as well homogeneity index calculated. With these values, curve constructed. its improved (80 % 11 %, respectively) an increased trays located in middle face best scenario. addition, reductions outcomes minimal due scale-up process terms length.