Two-dimensional simulation of silica gel drying using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

In this study, a two-dimensional, mathematical model for the analysis of the mass and heat transfer of moisture and water vapor in a humid-air dryer was developed using a commercially-available computational fluid dynamics code, Fluent (R). A thin-layer drying approach of drying kinetics for a general silica gel in computational fluid dynamics modeling was included in this work. Simulations were carried out for the top-tray position of the dryer and two different cases for structural designs: CASE 1 and CASE 2. By using an evaporation model, coupled with a moisture diffusion model, it was possible to calculate the moisture content and water vapor distribution inside the dryer. Consequently, using the proposed model, it was possible to analyze the relation between flow velocity and drying rate and estimate the optimal design of the dryer, CASE 2.