Thin-Layer Drying of Flax Fiber: II. Modeling Drying Process Using Semi-Theoretical and Empirical Models

Abstract

Thin-layer drying experiments were performed for drying flax fiber under four different drying conditions. In all drying treatments the absolute humidity of drying air was 0.0065 kg of water per kg of dry air, but the drying temperature were 30, 50, 70, and 100°C. The drying process was modeled using the drying data and five semi−theoretical and empirical models cited in different literatures. From the five tested models, the Page model gave the best fitting for experimental data with R ² equal to 0.99, for all treatments. The estimated drying constants at different drying temperatures were highly correlated with drying air temperature. The drying constants were also highly correlated with the calculated coefficient of diffusions.

Keywords:

• Drying
• Flax fiber
• Modeling
• Temperature
• Thin layer

Notes

MR ₀: Predicted initial moisture ratio; MR _f : predicted final moisture ratio.