In a laboratory test run, the rate of drying was found to be 0.5 x 10-3 kg/m2.s, when the moisture content reduced from 0.4 to 0.1 on dry basis. The critical moisture content of the material is 0.08 on a dry basis. A tray dryer is used to dry 100 kg (dry basis) of the same material under identical conditions. The surface area of the material is 0.04 m2/kg of dry solid. The time required (in seconds) to reduce the moisture content of the solids from 0.3 to 0.2 (dry basis) is______________________?

Question

Accepted Answer

5000. The drying rate is assumed constant between 0.3 and 0.2 moisture content. The time is calculated by dividing the mass of water to be removed by the product of the drying rate and the surface area.