Measurement of Physical Characteristics of Particle Beds for Drying

Abstract

Among physical characteristics of porous materials, properties related to liquid flow in porous materials play a critical role in the prediction of drying curves. In the present work, a simple experimental method was developed to simultaneously measure the capillary pressure and the relative permeability of particle beds by a simple drainage method. The observed data of permeability at low saturation of less than 70% was in fair agreement with a range of two lines that were predicted from the Campbell model. The purpose of the development of the present drainage method along with the drying method described in a previous paper is to provide a group of physical properties which are needed for prediction of drying curves by use of minimal measurement devices.

Keywords:

• Capillary pressure
• Diffusion
• Drainage
• Funicular state
• Irreducible saturation
• Pendular state
• Permeability