A Model for Drying of Porous Materials: From Generality to Specific Applications

Abstract

Mathematical modeling has been the primary approach for a detailed analysis of the porous material drying process. A number of mathematical models were developed over the past few decades since Luikov's system and Whitaker's theory. The present article offers a brief review of how the mathematical model for various drying purpose evolves through analyzing and summarizing the modeling works carried out in the authors' lab. A general mathematical model is presented and discussed for drying of porous materials based on analysis of the coupled heat and mass transport phenomena. Understanding of the drying behavior is presented with specific applications of the model. The findings on low-intensity convective drying, fixed bed drying, fluidized bed drying of porous particles, as well as freeze-drying of various high-value materials with (or without) microwave heating are examined and discussed.

Keywords:

• Fixed bed
• Fluidized bed
• Freeze drying
• Heat and mass transport
• Mathematical modeling
• Porous material drying

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial support from Hong Kong SAR Government through RGC 600704 and China Government through NNSF 21076042 is greatly appreciated. This work was also sponsored by China SRFDP 20070006037. Financial support from the Centre for Green Products and Processing Technologies of HKUST for participating in the conference is acknowledged with gratitude.