Modeling Intermittent Drying of Wood under Rapidly Varying Temperature and Humidity Conditions with the Lumped Reaction Engineering Approach (L-REA)

Abstract

For improving product quality and minimizing energy consumption during drying, intermittent drying is often recommended. The mathematical models that are used to describe intermittent drying are usually transport phenomena based, complex models. In this study, the lumped reaction engineering approach (L-REA) is implemented to model wood drying under rapid periodically changed drying air temperature and humidity with high number of cycles of intermittency. The equilibrium activation energy (ΔE _v,b ), an important parameter for REA approach, is evaluated according to the corresponding drying air temperature and humidity in each drying section. The results of modeling suggest the L-REA works well with the experimental data. The simplicity of the L-REA is obvious and is hoped to be used in an industrial setting more readily. The L-REA can be used for sustainable processing in industries to assist in energy audit and management.

Keywords:

• Drying
• Intermittent
• Lumped reaction engineering approach (L-REA)
• Modeling
• Rapid periodically changed drying air
• Rapid periodically changed humidity

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The first author acknowledges the ALAS (Australian Leadership Award Scholarship).