EXPERIMENT 18

STUDY OF CHARACATERISTICS OF DRYING OF

WET SOLIDS IN A TRAY DRYER
7.1 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are
1. To study the rates of drying of a wet solid in a tray dryer under constant temperature and
humidity conditions of the drying air. Here, the typical constant rate falling rate pattern
of drying is to be identified with the estimation of the constant rate, critical moisture
content and the equilibrium moisture content.
2. To study the behaviour of the drying curve with material beds of different particle size
3. To study the effect of air velocity on drying and
4. To study the effect of air temperature on drying
7.2 THEORY
The moisture content (X) of a wet solid is measured in terms of the weight of moisture per
unit weight of dry material.

-dX/dt

MOISTUR
URE
CONTEN

When a wet material of initial moisture content Xi is dried in a tray dryer, the typical variation
of moisture content with time is shown in Figure 7.1.

C
B

E
Xe
TIME (Minutes)

Xc

A
Xi

MOISTURE CONTENT

FIGURE 7.1
Typical variation of moisture content with time

FIGURE 7.2
Rate of Drying vs Moisture content

A plot of the rate of drying i.e. (-dX/dt) vs the moisture content X, shows a pattern as shown
in Figure 7.2. Here it can be seen that initially there is a sudden increase in the drying rate
along the line ABC followed by approximately a constant rate of drying Rc until a moisture
content of Xc is reached at D. Beyond D a remarkable drop in the rate of drying is seen until
a point E is reached at which point the rate of drying is nearly zero. The point C is called the
critical point and the value Xc is called the critical moisture content. The point E is called the
Equilibrium point and the value Xe is called the equilibrium moisture content.

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EXPERIMENT 7

For a given material and air temperature, the constant rate of drying is usually a function of
the velocity V as given by
Rc = K.Vy

(1)

where K and y are constants. It has been found that the value of y is approximately 0.8 in
most cases.
7.3 APPARATUS
The layout of the equipment is shown in Figure 7.3
The apparatus consists of a duct A in which a digital balance B is positioned so that three
sample trays T1, T2 and T3 are exposed to the interior of the duct. The trays within the duct
can be accessed through an access door C. The duct is clamped on to the floor through
clamping D. A blower/fan is controlled through a switch at the control panel E, so that the air
flow rate can be set to a desired value. The control panel is also fitted with a heater control
switch which can be used to control the power input to the heater, which heats up the air
entering the duct. This allows the operator to manipulate the temperature of the air entering
the dryer. An anemometer placed at the exit of the duct measures the velocity of the air
leaving the duct. An aspirated psychrometer positioned at the upstream of the trays
measures the dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures of air upstream of the trays.

FIGURE 7.3 DIAGRAM OF THE LAY OUT OF THE APPARATUS

Figure 7.4 presents a picture of the tray dryer experimental rig used in this experiment.

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EXPERIMENT 7

FIGURE 7.4 THE TRAY DRYER EXPERIMENTAL RIG

7.4. SERVICES AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
Water supply.
Power Supply 220V AC
A mixed sand sample
Fractions of sand sieved approximately 200 499 a nd >200
7.5 PRE EXPERIMENTAL QUESTIONS
1. Name three industrial applications of drying of solids
2. Write down a short note on each of the following
i.
Critical moisture content
ii.
Equilibrium moisture content
3. Identify the following units in the apparatus.
i.
Duct
ii.
Trays
iii.
Blower/fan
iv.
Heater
v.
Control panel
vi.
Psychrometer

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EXPERIMENT 7

7.6 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Caution for safety:
1. You must familiarize yourself with the flow paths and apparatus before beginning of the
experiment.
2. Caution must be taken not to switch on the power before the air fan/blower switch is put
on.
General Experiment
(a) Measurement of Drying Curves
1.
Clean the trays with a dry cloth and dry the trays if necessary.
2.
Weigh all the three trays empty.
3.
Fill all the three trays with sand up to a depth of about 10mm in each tray.
4.
Weigh all the trays with sand again.
5.
Pour and sprinkle water on the material until the material is completely wet and a thin
layer of excess water is seen over the surface of the trays.
6.
Even out the surface of material in the trays with proper care not to spill the material
out.
7.
Weigh the trays with the wet material.
8.
Position the trays on the balance within the duct.
9.
Switch on the fan and set the speed control to a mid position.
10. Switch on the power control position to the maximum. Keep these settings constant
throughout the experiment.
11. Record the total weight of the trays, at regular intervals of time ( say 10 minutes) until
the weight of the trays do not show an appreciable change with time.
12. Note down the air velocity using the anemometer and the wet and dry bulb
temperatures using the psychrometer.
(b) To study the effect of particle size on drying
1.
Repeat the experiment described under 7.6(a) twice with sand with grades 200
499 a nd >200 s e pa ra te ly.
2.
Note down the air velocity using the anemometer and the wet and dry bulb
temperatures using the psychrometer.
(c) To study the effect of air velocity on drying
e for two new settings
1.
Repeat the experiment 7.6(b) with sand grade of >200 twic
for the air flow velocity. The air velocity can be controlled by controlling the blower fan
speed. The heater power output can be controlled if necessary in order to avoid
overheating.
d) To study the effect of air velocity on drying
1.

Repeat the experiment 7.6(c) with sand grade of >200 twice for two ne w s e ttings
for the air temperature keeping the air velocity at the value as in latter trial of the
experiment 7.6 (c). The air temperature can be controlled by controlling the heater
power output.

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EXPERIMENT 7

7.7 EXPERIMENT LOG SHEET

Students are requested to fill in the following measurements.
Experiment A: General Drying Characteristics
Particle Grade:
Air Velocity = V1
Dry Bulb Temperature = T1
Wet Bulb Temperature =
Weight of
Empty Trays
(W1)

Time
(Minutes)
Weight of
trays W4*
(kg)
Moisture
Content
X=W4*/W3

Weight of
Trays with
wet san(W2)

C
C
Weight of
Dry Sand
(W3)

Weight of Moisture
W4=(W2-W3-W1)

Xi
= W4/W3

Experiment B: Effect of Particle Size

Trial B I
Particle Grade: 200499
Air Velocity = V1 =
(keep constant as earlier)
Dry Bulb Temperature
(keep constant as earlier) = T1
Wet Bulb Temperature =

Weight of
Empty Trays
(W1)

Weight of
Trays with
wet san(W2)

C
C

Weight of
Dry Sand
(W3)

Weight of Moisture
W4=(W2-W3-W1)

Xi
= W4/W3

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EXPERIMENT 7

Time
(Minutes)
Weight of
trays W4*
(kg)
Moisture
Content
X=W4*/W3

Trial B 2
Particle Grade: >200
Air Velocity = V1 =
(keep constant as earlier)
Dry Bulb Temperature
(keep constant as earlier) = T1
Wet Bulb Temperature =
Weight of
Empty Trays
(W1)

Time
(Minutes)
Weight of
trays W4*
(kg)
Moisture
Content
X=W4*/W3

Weight of
Trays with
wet san(W2)

C
C
Weight of
Dry Sand
(W3)

Weight of Moisture
W4=(W2-W3-W1)

Xi
= W4/W3

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EXPERIMENT 7

Experiment C: Effect of Air Velocity

Trial C I
Particle Grade: >200
Air Velocity = V2 =
Dry Bulb Temperature
(keep constant as earlier) = T1
Wet Bulb Temperature =
Weight of
Empty Trays
(W1)

Time
(Minutes)
Weight of
trays W4*
(kg)
Moisture
Content
X=W4*/W3

Weight of
Trays with
wet san(W2)

C
C
Weight of
Dry Sand
(W3)

Weight of Moisture
W4=(W2-W3-W1)

Xi
= W4/W3

Trial C 2
Particle Grade: 200499
Air Velocity = V3 =
Dry Bulb Temperature
(keep constant as earlier) = T1
Wet Bulb Temperature =
Weight of
Empty Trays
(W1)

Time
(Minutes)
Weight of
trays W4*
(kg)
Moisture
Content
X=W4*/W3

Weight of
Trays with
wet san(W2)

C
C
Weight of
Dry Sand
(W3)

Weight of Moisture
W4=(W2-W3-W1)

Xi
= W4/W3

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EXPERIMENT 7

Experiment D: Effect of Air Temperature

Trial D I
Particle Grade: 200499
Air Velocity = V3 =
(keep constant as in Trail CII)
Dry Bulb Temperature = T2
Wet Bulb Temperature =
Weight of
Empty Trays
(W1)

Time
(Minutes)
Weight of
trays W4*
(kg)
Moisture
Content
X=W4*/W3

Weight of
Trays with
wet san(W2)

C
C
Weight of
Dry Sand
(W3)

Time
(Minutes)
Weight of
trays W4*
(kg)
Moisture
Content
X=W4*/W3

Xi
= W4/W3

Trial D 2
Particle Grade: 200499
Air Velocity = V3 =
(keep constant as in Trail CII)
Dry Bulb Temperature =T3 C
Wet Bulb Temperature =
Weight of
Empty Trays
(W1)

Weight of Moisture
W4=(W2-W3-W1)

Weight of
Trays with
wet san(W2)

Weight of
Dry Sand
(W3)

Weight of Moisture
W4=(W2-W3-W1)

Xi
= W4/W3

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EXPERIMENT 7

7.8 POST EXPERIMENTAL QUESTIONS

(a) Plot the drying curves X vs. t for all the above cases in a single graph sheet. Label the
temperatures and velocities and particle sizes relating to each curve.
(b) Obtain the gradients of several points of each curve and plot the respective drying rate (dX/dt) vs X curve.
(c) Note down the following for each case
(i)
Constant rate (Rc)
(ii)
Critical moisture content
(iii)
Equilibrium moisture content.
(d) Discuss the variation of the above parameters with different particle size samples
(e) Discuss the variation of the above parameters with different air velocities
(f) Discuss the variation of the above parameters with different air temperatures
(g) Plot a graph of log (Rc) vs log (velocity of air) and estimate the value of y in equation (1)

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