Estimation of heat and mass transfer coefficients in cross-flow sliding bed drying of grains

Abstract

The convective two-phase model for grain drying in a cross-flow sliding bed dryer is used for the analysis and estimation of global volumetric mass transfer coefficient and global interphase heat transfer coefficient at different corn drying experimental conditions. Code MAXIMA, based on maximum likelihood estimation techniques, was used for parameter estimation. An equation, analogous to “Newton's law of cooling”, and Nu = * (Re,Pr) correlation were used to describe mass transfer rate and global interphase heat transfer coefficient, respectively. There were two distinct objectives for parameter estimation: minimization of average outlet solid moisture deviations and minimization of outlet gas temperature profile. Results allowed good parameter estimation in both cases. Estimated values were better when average solid moisture was chosen as the single objective variable of the estimation process