CHE 151-1L Chemical Engineering Laboratory 2

4th Quarter, S.Y. 2017-2018

Tray Dryer
Abolencia, Edin Hayel T., Derramas, Pasia, Abraham Paul L., Payongayong, Michael L.1
1Student(s), CHE151-1L/A41, School of Chemical, Biological, Materials Engineering and Sciences, Mapúa University

INTRODUCTION dry simultaneously [4]. Figure 2 shows the schematic

In process industries, drying is one of the most of a tray dryer.
commonly used and most energy consuming unit
operation. It generally refers to the removal of
moisture or liquid from a substance. The liquid
removed is usually water but can also be a solvent or
volatile compound such as alcohol and acetone. There
are three basic methods used for drying; 1) sun drying
which is a traditional method that uses the sun’s heat,
2) hot air drying in which materials are exposed to hot
air, and 3) freeze drying which uses a vacuum
chamber to draw out water [1]. The type of method
used depends on the nature of the substance that will
undergo the drying process and the product desired.

Tray drying is the most commonly used drying system Figure 1. Parts of a Tray Dryer [2]
next to sun drying. It is used in the manufacturing
industries of chemicals, dyes, food products, among
others [2]. The equipment used are called tray dryers
which are composed of enclosed insulated chamber
where the trays are placed on top of each other in
trolleys [3]. Figure 1 shows the different parts of an
tray dryer, namely, the drying chamber, drying
trolley, drying tray, circulation fan, heat exchanger,
control panel, fresh air inlet, and exhaust damper.

For tray dryers, the material to be dried is placed on

the trays. Hot air from electric heaters or steam in
Figure 2. Schematic Diagram of a Tray Dryer [3]
radiator coils is continuously circulated by fans
installed inside the dryer to ensure sufficient transfer
Three basic types of tray dryers are available based on
of heat. The moisture on the substance is then
the loading and unloading modes of the trays, namely,
removed due to forced convection. Simultaneously,
batch, semi-continuous, and cross-flow dryers. The
the moist air is removed partially [3]. Tray dryers are
simplest and cheapest to construct are batch air dryers
designed so that the materials at the top & the bottom
[3]. To support the material to be dried, the drying is

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fitted with internal runners. The hot air flows from the
bottom of the chamber to the top. Hence, the last tray
dried is at the top. The disadvantages of batch tray
dryers are low efficiency and tendency of the lower
trays to over dry.
To overcome the disadvantages of the batch system,
semi-continuous dryers were made. In a semi-
continuous dryer, a lifting mechanism is present which
lifts all the trays except the bottom tray so it can be
removed once it is dried. The trays are lowered and a
tray of fresh material can be loaded at the top of the
chamber [3]. Overdrying is thus avoided and a higher
quality product is obtained. Figure 3 shows a
schematic diagram for a semi-continuous tray dryer.
Figure 3. Semi-continuous Dryer Schematic Diagram
[4]
For a cross-flow dryer, the air is blown directly across
the trays through a series of louvers. It is then
recirculated over the heater. At the early stages, air is
removed by venting to an exit and fresh air is
introduced in the dryer. Hence, all trays dry at the
same rate [3]. The tray dryers used in process
industries today are cross-flow dryers. Figure 4 shows
a schematic of a semi-continuous tray dryer.
Experiment 6 | Group 1 | June 6, 2018
Figure 4. Cross-flow Dryer Schematic Diagram [5]
Simultaneous heat and mass transfer occurs during the
drying process. To evaporate the liquid, heat is
transferred to the product and mass is then transferred
as a vapor into the surrounding gas. The drying rate is
determined by the several factors that affect heat and
mass transfer [6]. It can be calculated using equation 1
below.
𝐿𝑠 𝑑𝑥 (1)
𝑅 = −( )( )
𝐴 𝑑𝑡
where R is the drying rate (kg H2O/h-m2), Ls is the
mass of dry solid used (kg), A is the area exposed for
drying (m2), x is the free moisture (kg H2O/kg dry
solid), t is the drying time (h), and dx/dt is the slope of
the tangent line drawn in the x vs t curve.
The process of drying can be visualized through the
use of curves, the moisture versus drying rate (see
Figure 5) and moisture versus time (see Figure 6). For
solids drying, two distinct drying zones known as the
constant-rate period and the falling-rate period are
present. The initial moisture content of the substance
is at point A or point A’ for high temperature
substances. As drying is started at constant drying
conditions, the temperature of the substance increases
or decreases until it reaches an equilibrium value at
point C [7]. Section BC is then attained which
represents the constant-rate period where moisture is
considered to be evaporating from a saturated surface.
The constant-rate period continues until a break in the
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drying curve is attained at point C known as the
critical moisture content. Moisture then reaches the REFERENCES
surface at a decreasing rate which influences the rate [1] Air Tray Dryer Manufacturers in India – Promas
of drying. Hence, a fall in the drying rate occurs as Engineers. (n.d.). Retrieved from
drying continues represented by section CE which is http://www.promasengineers.com/air-tray-dryer/
called the falling-rate period. Drying continues until
an equilibrium moisture content is reached for the [2] Tray Dryer Working Principles. Retrieved from
drying conditions set [7]. http://pharmawiki.in/tray-dryer-working-principle-
tray-dryers-theory-manufacturer-best-pharmaceutical-
equipment/

[3] Tray dryers (Practical Action Technical Brief).

(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.appropedia.org/Tray_dryers_(Practical_A
ction_Technical_Brief)

[4] Keey, R. B. Dryers. Retrieved from

http://www.thermopedia.com/content/710/

[5] A. S. Mujumdar (2000). Classification and

Selection of Industrial Dryers.
Figure 5. Rate of Drying vs Free Moisture Content [6]
[6] Geankoplis, C. J. 2003. Principles of Transport
Processes and Separation Processes. 4th edition.
Pearson Education, Inc

[7] De Guzman, M. R., Gutierrez, C. L. 2005.

Chemical Engineering Laboratory Manual

Figure 6. Moisture removed as function of time [6]

The objectives of the experiment are to observe the

drying behavior of sand wet with water using a tray
dryer and to interpret the drying process through the
use of the drying curves.

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4th Quarter, S.Y. 2017-2018

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