Table of Contents

AIM ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
RESULTS .................................................................................................................................................. 2
DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................................. 7
NOMENCLATURE ..................................................................................................................................... 9
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 11
APPENDIX .............................................................................................................................................. 12
CALCULATION OF THE MOISTURE CONTENT ON DRY BASIS ............................................................... 12
DETERMINATION OF CRITICAL TIME .................................................................................................. 12
From Graph ................................................................................................................................... 12
By Using Curve Fitting Method ....................................................................................................... 12
CALCULATION OF THE RATE OF DRYING (EXPERIMENTAL) ................................................................. 14
1)

CURVE FITTING METHOD ....................................................................................................... 14

2)

WITH TAKING NUMERICAL DERIVATIVES ................................................................................ 15

CALCULATION OF THE RATE OF DRYING (THEORETICAL) .................................................................... 16

CALCULATION OF AIR FLOW RATE AND REYNOLDS NUMBER ......................................................... 16
CALCULATION OF DRYING RATE AT CRITICAL POINT ....................................................................... 18
FINDING THE ABSOLUTE PERCENT ERROR ...................................................................................... 19

AIM
This experiment report aims to investigate the characteristic of drying curves, critical
and equilibrium moisture values of a wet sawdust sample and the parameters which are
effecting them.

RESULTS
Table 1: Experimental Results.

Time
(min)

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120

Mt (g)

Mw+t (g)

Md+t (g)

P (mmWH)

Tv,in (C)

Tv,out (C)

RH %

105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105
105

144.53
143.20
141.50
139.90
138.10
136.00
133.92
131.90
129.81
127.80
125.86
124.05
122.08
120.31
118.73
117.30
115.90
114.82
113.86
113.28
112.78
112.11
111.74
111.30
111.00

110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95
110.95

124
135
138
138
138
138
138
105
107
105
107
106
105
105
105
105
105
109
105
105
105
105
105
105
105

24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24

87
82
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
81
86
85
85
84
84
84
84
84
84
84
85

27.1
28.6
28.4
29.4
29.7
29.8
29.8
29.7
29.8
30.1
30.5
30.6
30.7
30.9
30.9
30.5
30.6
30.7
30.3
30.6
30.6
30.6
30.1
30.1
30.1

Table 2: Moisture Contents.

Time (min) X(kg w/kg dry)

0
5.644
5
5.420
10
5.134
15
4.866
20
4.563
25
4.210
30
3.861
35
3.521
40
3.170
45
2.832
50
2.506
55
2.202
60
1.871
65
1.573
70
1.308
75
1.067
80
0.832
85
0.650
90
0.489
95
0.392
100
0.308
105
0.195
110
0.133
115
0.059
120
0.008

Figure 1: Experimental moisture content graph respect to time and trendline

equations.

Table 3: Experimental rate of drying results.

Time (min) X(kg w/kg dry)

0
5.644
5
5.420
10
5.134
15
4.866
20
4.563
25
4.210
30
3.861
35
3.521
40
3.170
45
2.832
50
2.506
55
2.202
60
1.871
65
1.573
70
1.308
75
1.067
80
0.832
85
0.650
90
0.489
95
0.392
100
0.308
105
0.195
110
0.133
115
0.059
120
0.008

N
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.065
0.052
0.047
0.043
0.038
0.033
0.028
0.024
0.019
0.014

Figure 2: Drying rate respect to moisture content.

Table 4: Calculated X values over time, Numerical Derivative Results X

and Calculated N values (Steady State Constant Rate estimation
highlighted).

i (step)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Time (min)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120

X(t)
5.6437
5.4202
5.1345
4.8655
4.563
4.2101
3.8605
3.521
3.1697
2.8319
2.5059
2.2017
1.8706
1.5731
1.3076
1.0672
0.8319
0.6504
0.4891
0.3916
0.3076
0.195
0.1328
0.0588
0.0084

X'(t)
-0.0447
-0.0509
-0.0519
-0.054
-0.0573
-0.0594
-0.0606
-0.0618
-0.0625
-0.0628
-0.0626
-0.0629
-0.0626
-0.0619
-0.061
-0.0601
-0.0587
-0.0573
-0.0553
-0.0534
-0.0519
-0.0501
-0.0486
-0.047
-0.0101

N
0.0529
0.0603
0.0614
0.064
0.0679
0.0704
0.0718
0.0732
0.074
0.0743
0.0741
0.0744
0.0741
0.0733
0.0722
0.0712
0.0695
0.0678
0.0654
0.0632
0.0614
0.0593
0.0575
0.0556
0.0119

Figure 3: X versus N plot from the data obtained by Numerical Derivation.

Table 5: Given data about experimental setup.

Pipe Diameter (mm)

Orifice Diameter (mm)
Air Flow Area Trough Dryer(m2)
Petry Diameter (cm)
Ambient Air RH%

63
27
0.33
8
46.8

Table 6: Theoretical Results.

Re initial
3000
30000
45000

Orifice coeff. Co
0.64
0.61
0.60

Flow rate m (kg/s)

0.0186
0.0177
0.0174

Re final
50847
48646
47669

Nc theoretical
0.377

DISCUSSION
In the first section of calculations the moisture content on the dry basis X were
calculated over time from the collected experimental data which is given in results section table
1 and the results as on table 2 are plotted as shown in figure 1.
The plot is visually convenient with the expectation of linear decrease of X over time
until the critical point XC and parabolic decrease after that point through the equilibrium point
XE. By using the visual guess the line on the plot were divided into two sections which are
before and after the critical point XC. And by using the Excel Trendlines, the line before the
critical point is modelled as a linear and negative slope equation which has a great R2 value of
0.9985.
The line after the critical point is selected to be a second order polynomial model
because, on the second plot the figure 2 which is X (moisture content) vs N (drying rate), is the
derivative of the first one and also the line between critical and equilibrium points on the
second plot can be assumed as a linear line so using a second order equation makes sense also
the R2 value is 0.9967 which is very well for this model. Critical drying rate was found as 0.065
kgW/ time*area.
To confirm the estimation on the critical value of X, those two equations were
intersected and the results are saying that XC is around the time 79 minutes which was
expected to be between 75 and 80 minutes when we look at the results on table 3.
The calculation via numerical derivation was also found similar to the experimental
results as shown on table 4 and figure 3. The critical point or in other words the linear tendency
end of N over X is slightly out of linearity according to the figure 3 but in general the profile is as
expected. Critical drying rate was calculated as 0.074 kgW/time*area.
The theoretical results on table 6 were obtained after 3 Re number guess or iterations.
The drying rate at the critical time was found as 0.377 kgW/time*area which has a large error
about over 80 %.
The differences on the results of this experiment can be explained as follows.
-There might be experimental set-up maintenance lack which results false
measurements or problems with the working.
-The might be human sources errors on the measurements.
-The environmental changes like temperature, wind and humidity might effected the
measurements or the results.

-The purity of the water to wet the sawdust.

-The physical properties of the material to be dried. (Non-homogenous or poor surface
area etc.)
-The calculations or the models used to explain the results might be false or differ at
accuracy.
To avoid such problems, the devices can be checked by professionals or the experiment
can be run several times to see the accuracy, the materials used in the experiment can be
replaced or cleaned properly, the calculation were made could be re considered again and the
accuracy of the models or the devices could be tested on different cases.

NOMENCLATURE
m = Air flow rate (kg /s)
C o = Orifice meter correction coefficient
= Density of the air before entering the dryer (kg /m 3 )
=Viscosity of air before entering the dryer (kg / ms)
P = Pressure drop in orifice meter ( mmWH )
D o = Orifice diameter (mm)
D i = Pipe diameter (mm)
= Latent heat of vaporization (kj / kg )
h V = Heat transfer coefficient of the air (W/m 2 K )
G V = Mass flux of the air (kg / m 2 s )
RH = Relative Humidity
N c = Critical Drying rate (g water vaporized / m 2 min)
N = Drying rate (g water vaporized / m2 min)
Mt = Weight of one petry (g)
Ti = wet bulb temperature of air (oC )
Tv = Dry bulb temperature of air (oC )
Tv,in = Inlet temperature of air (oC )
Tv,out = Outlet temperature of air (oC )
(MW+T ) = Amount of wet sample (g)
(MD+T ) = Amount of dried sample (g)
X = Moisture content on dry basis (g moisture /g dry solid )
9

Xc = Critical moisture content on dry basis (g moisture /g dry solid)

A = Drying area (m2)
Ao = Air flow area through the dryer (m2)
W =Weight of dry solid (g)
c = Critical time (min)
=Time (min)
Re = Reynolds Number
Psaturation = Saturation Pressure of air (kPa)
Pv = Vaporization Pressure of air (kPa)

10

REFERENCES
1-Perry and Chilton, Chemical Engineering Handbook 5th Ed. 5-13, McGraw Hill Book Co.,1973
2-Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes 3rd Ed. Wiley.
3-EngieeringToolBox.com

11

APPENDIX
CALCULATION OF THE MOISTURE CONTENT ON DRY BASIS

M W T t t M DT t
M DT t M T

At t = 0 min;

144.53110.95
110.95105

= 5.644 kg water/kg dry basis

Other values are tabulated in Table 2 in result section.

DETERMINATION OF CRITICAL TIME

From Graph
Critical moisture content (Xc) read 75 and critical moisture time (C) is 1.067 from Figure 1.
With Trendlines:
y=-0.0646x+5.7693 (constant rate trendline equation)
y=0.0004x2-0.108x+6.6987 (falling rate trendline equation)
y represent x(moisture content), x represent (time)
Intersection of the trendlines gives us critical moisture content and critical time.
-0.0646x+5.7693 = 0.0004x2-0.108x+6.6987
-0.0646 +5.7693 = 0.0004 2-0.108 +6.6987
1 = 29 , 2=79
Xc = -0.0646(79) + 5.7693 = 0.6659
By Using Curve Fitting Method
Constant Rate Period:
y= ax+b so; x=a +b

[
[

= .. ]

12

1
1 0
= [ 1 ] = [1 ]
1
1 80
1
= [
0

1 1
]
. . 80

X
5.644
= [] = [ ]
X
0.832
( )1 ( ) =

b
( F T F )1 ( F T F ) ( F T F )1 ( F T X )
a

b 5.7317
a 0.0630

y=-0.0630x+5.7317
Falling Rate Period:
y= ex2+dx+c so; x=e 2+d +c

F .
.

C
C 1

C2 1

g2

C2

xc
.
e

F T F d F T .

c
.
xF

13

( F T F ) 1 ( F T F ) I
c
( F F ) ( F F ) d ( F T F ) 1 ( F T X )
e
T

e 0.0003
d 0.0699

c 4.7462
y= 0.0003x2-0.0699x+4.7462

CALCULATION OF THE RATE OF DRYING (EXPERIMENTAL)

N

W dX

A d

W M D T M T 5.95g 0.0059g
Di 8cm 8 102 m
Ai

D2
4

(8 102 ) 2
4

0.005m 2

1) CURVE FITTING METHOD

DRYING RATE OF CONSTANT RATE PERIOD

y=-0.0630x+5.7317
x=-0.0630 +5.7317
(0.0630 + 5.7317)
=
= 0.0630

=
=

(0.0630)

0.0059
(0.0630) = 0.07434
0.005

= at constant rate =0.07434

14

DRYING RATE OF FALLING RATE PERIOD

y= 0.0003x2-0.0699x+4.7462
x= 0.00032-0.0699+4.7462
2

(0.0003 0.0699 + 4.7462)

=
= 0.0006 0.0699

(0.0006 0.0699)

At 80 min. :

0.0059
(0.0006 (80) 0.0699) = 0.0258
0.005

Other values are tabulated in Table 3 in result section.

2) WITH TAKING NUMERICAL DERIVATIVES
The drying rate is calculated by numerical derivation as shown below. Results were
convenient with the other methods to determine the drying rate at constant period and found
as approximately 0.074.
X is the function of time. So by using the calculated X values and time steps, the rate of
change of the moisture content X over time is numerically calculated.
() =

+1 0
5.4202 5.6437
=> 1 =
= 0.0447
+1 0
50

Where i is the calculation or measurement step, X0 is the initial moisture content, t0 is the
beginning of the experiment time zero and Xi+1 and ti+1 are each step after initial measurement and
calculations.
From the equation 1 in the textbook N is calculated as follows.
=

0.00595
(0.0447) = 0.0529
=> 1 =

0.00502

The rest of the calculation results are given in the table in the results section.

15

CALCULATION OF THE RATE OF DRYING (THEORETICAL)

CALCULATION OF AIR FLOW RATE AND REYNOLDS NUMBER
Co Ao (2P / )1 / 2

1 D

/ Di

air = 1.205 kg/m3 (@20 oC)

Ao

(27 103 ) 2
4

5.73 10 m

air = 1.725*10-5

Do 27mm 27 103 m

Do2

kg/m.s (@20 oC)

P = 105 mmWh = 1029.69 Pa = 1029.69 N/m2

2

Re Assumption :

First Re assumption is selected Re1 = 3000

Re =

If Re1 = 3000 ; Orifice meter correction coefficient is determined as C o = 0.64

Do 27 10 3 m

0.428
D 63 10 3 m

0,64 * 5.73 104 *1.205* (2 *1029.69 / 1.205)1 / 2

1 0.428
4

Re1 =

4(0.0186)
0.027

m = 0.0186 kg/s

= 50847.57 So ; at first assumption 3000 50847.57

Second Re assumption is selected Re2 = 30000

CO = 0. 61

If the same ways are followed at first Re assumption ; Re2 = 48464.1

Third Re assumption is selected Re3 = 45000

CO = 0.6

at this time Re3 = 47669.6

So the value of Re is accepted as 47669.6

16

17

CALCULATION OF DRYING RATE AT CRITICAL POINT

Re = 47669.6 and

m = 0.0186 kg/s

NC = drying rate at critical point

= latent heat of vaporization

hv = heat transfer coefficient

GV = mass flux of the air

TV = dry bulb temperature of air

A = area of petri

Ti = wet bulb temperature of air

NC =

hv

hv = 14.3*(Gv)0.8

(TV T)ln

Gv =

= 0.0186

0.005024

3.7 kg/(m2.s)

hv = 14.3*(3.7)0.8 = 40.75 W/(m2K)

TV = 95OC

= 2257 kj/kg

for Ti;

Psaturation at 24oC = 3.17 kPa

at % 27 Relative Humidity

Psaturation at 95oC = 85 kPa

Pv = (0.27)*(3.17) = 0.856
0.856
100 = % 1.007
85

At % 1.007 and 95oC from the psychometric chart ;

(TV T )ln =

NC =

ln ( )

40.75
2257

951
ln(

95
)
1

= 20.86

*(20.86) = 0.377

18

Ti = 1 oC

FINDING THE ABSOLUTE PERCENT ERROR

Theoritical Rate of Dryig Rate = 0.377

Experimental Rate of Drying = 0.07434

Theo. Exp.

Absolute Percent Error =

=

0.3770.07434
0.377

* 100

= % 80.28

19

* 100