Graphical determination of drying process and moisture transfer parameters for solids drying

In this paper a simple graphical method is proposed to determine the drying moisture transfer parameters such as moisture diffusivity and moisture transfer coefficient for solid products, Once the lag factor and the drying coefficient are obtained from the experimental moisture content data, the proposed graphical method can be used to estimate the drying moisture transfer parameters in a quick and efficient manner, Drying time can also be easily determined for a solid whose drying process parameters are known. Two illustrative examples are given to highlight the importance of the topic and validate the use of the present methodology for practical drying applications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.