GRAIN DRYING IN COUNTERCURRENT AND CONCURRENT GAS FLOW -MODELLING, SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL TESTS

ABSTRACT

Mathematical models and numerical techniques for simulation of parallel flow grain drying has been proposed and tested. Concurrent flow drying has been simulated using a steady state model. In order to overcome numerical difficulties that appears in simulation of countercurrent flow drying under operational conditions that leads to thermodynamics equilibrium in any section of the dryer stage, a robust approach has been developed based on simulation of the operation starting from initial transient conditions. A lab unit for grain drying has been developed, composed of a countercurrent flow stage coupled on a concurrent flow stage. The mathematical models and numerical techniques has been tested through the comparison between calculated results and experimental data measured for com drying.

Keywords and phrases:

• drying simulation
• parallel flow dryers
• corn drying