Fluidized Bed Air Drying: Experimental Study and
Model Development
Markus Henneberg*, Stefan Heinrich, Matthias Ihlow and Lothar Mörl
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Institute for Process Equipment and Environmental Technology, P.O. Box
4120, D-39016 Magdeburg, Germany
F
or conventional fluidized bed drying with hot air as the drying
medium, the transient profile of the particle moisture is often
determined through humidity measurements of the inlet and
outlet air through mass balance. Temperature profiles on the other hand
are simple and may be determined without high apparatus costs. The
present study helps establish a relation between the temperature and
humidity profiles, as well as all other relevant drying parameters, as for
instance gas mass flow, gas temperature and particle mass, while costlier
humidity measurements can be avoided. The mass and energy balances
of all components involved; fluidization gas, fluidized bed particles, and
apparatus walls, are formulated, taking into account an inactive bypass.
The fluidized bed drying mechanisms, with hot air as fluidization and
drying medium, are explained, so that any drying time profile may be
simulated. A batch fluidized bed drying is used as the basis of the
presented study.
In order to implement the mathematical model of the batch
operation also for the continuous process, the longitudinal mixing of the
product in a continuous drying apparatus, for example in a fluidized
channel, should not be considered, in other words, its insignificance
should be presupposed, in order to be able to calculate a continuous
process through a batch model. The space coordinates of the continu-
ous and the time coordinates of the batch fluidized bed apparatus are
related through a constant drying rate.
Theoretical Basis and Thermodynamic Modeling
The batch fluidized bed using air as the fluidization and drying medium,
can be divided into three defined stages: the particles heating phase (H),
the first drying period (I), and the second drying period (II). In these
three stages, different mass and energy balance mechanisms are
involved. The model allows the calculation of various time-dependent
process parameters: particle moisture content and particle temperature,
apparatus wall temperature, as well as the time and bed height-dependent
air temperature profile.
In the present model, the temperature difference is assumed to be the
driving force of the drying potential. The fluidized bed air drying is
therefore seen as a process merely considering heat transfer mechanisms.
The energy required for the evaporation of the contained water is
transferred to the particles through heat and enthalpy flows. In this case
of air drying, water evaporates from the product surface and leaves the
*Author to whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail address:
markus.henneberg@vst.uni-magdeburg.de
176
The presented study describes the processes and
mechanisms of batch fluidized bed drying. The
influencing factors of hot air drying are theoretically
and experimentally examined, in order to present the
relations between temperature and humidity profiles
and all other drying parameters. A physical model is
presented to facilitate the calculation of the drying
processes under defined conditions. Three succeeding
drying stages are therefore modeled. Mass and
energy balances including all components taking part
in the process are formulated. The model clarities the
drying process under the assumption of pure heat
transfer mechanisms. It does not contain adaptive
parameters and takes into account an inactive bypass
fraction of the fluidization and drying medium. The
evaluation of the model was successful for two
fluidized bed plants with nominal widths of 100 mm
and 400 mm. The experiments showed sufficient
accuracy and transferability of the model to
equipment of application-oriented dimensions.
On décrit dans la présente étude les procédés et
mécanismes de séchage en lit fluidisé discontinu. Les
facteurs importants du séchage à air chaud sont
examinés de façon théorique et expérimentale dans le
but d’expliquer les relations entre les profils de
température et d’humidité et tous les autres
paramètres de séchage. On présente un modèle
physique pour faciliter le calcul des procédés de
séchage dans des conditions définies. Trois étapes de
séchage consécutives sont modélisées. Les bilans de
matière et d’énergie faisant intervenir tous les
composants qui prennent part au procédé sont
formulés. Le procédé de séchage est modélisé en
supposant des mécanismes de transfert de chaleur
purs. Il ne comporte pas de paramètres adaptatifs et
prend en compte une fraction de dérivation inactive
du milieu de fluidisation et de séchage. L’évaluation
du modèle s’est avérée concluante pour deux lits
fluidisés de largeur nominale de 100 mm et 400 mm.
Les expériences montrent une précision et une
transférabilité suffisantes du modèle à des
équipements de dimensions industrielles.
Keywords: drying, batch, fluidized bed, modeling.
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003
fluidized bed as humid air. Conventional drying with hot air is
commonly described through mass transfer. According to
Baehr and Stephan (1994) the influence of a self-forming
boundary layer for the diffusive mass transfer is calculated
taking the Stefan correction into account. In a similar way to
the Stefan correction for the mass transfer, the Ackermann correc-
tion for the heat transfer takes into account the partial flow that
disappears at the phase boundary (Baehr and Stephan, 1994).
The Ackermann correction according to Gnielinski et al. (1993)
for the heat transfer coefficients in the first approximation is
considered equal to unity.
The bubble behaviour in the fluidized bed is modeled according to
Hilligardt and Werther (1986). It contains a bypass, allowing
the calculations of mixed temperature of the active and passive
air flow over the bed.
Model Assumptions
The following was assumed:
• ideal mixing of the solids in the suspension phase,
• ideal plug-flow of the steam in the suspension phase
• uniform chamber wall temperature,
• low Biot number (thermal resistance in the solid is assumed
negligible),
• particles are spherical and monodisperse, and
• particle form and size are independent from the moisture
content.The model also takes into account the influence of
possible existing non-homogeneities in the fluidized bed,
e.g., bubbles. This means:
• Along with the aforementioned homogeneous suspension
phase of solid particles and suspension gas, a bubble phase
is also present, characterized as an inactive bypass by
Schlünder and Tsotsas (1988). In the mass- and energy
balances, the gas mass flows are reduced by the bypass
fraction.
The scaling is performed analogous to the form of van Meel
(1958), with a normalized drying rate and a normalized
moisture content of the particles.
Particle Heating (H)
A particle moisture increase through condensation due to
drying with moist air is ruled out, as well as a particle moisture
reduction due to evaporation.The first stage is characterized by
the heating of the drying product up to the saturation
temperature. The heating stage ends, when the particle
temperature JP reaches the saturation temperature JSat
corresponding to the system pressure and to the air inlet
temperature. At this point begins the next stage (JE £ JP,H < JSat).
First Drying Period (I)
The first drying period corresponds to the drying of a free fluid
surface (Gnielinski, 1993). A boundary condition for this model
stage is a particle moisture content X over the critical moisture
content (X ≥ Xkr). The drying rate depends on the external
process parameters (temperature, pressure, heat transfer
coefficients), particle moisture content independent, and
constant. The particles dry until they reach critical moisture
content Xkr. The heat supplied to the particles is used
exclusively for the evaporation of the particle moisture. The
particle temperature remains in this way constant (JP,I = const.)
and equal to the air saturation temperature corresponding to
the system pressure (JP,I = JSat). The normalized drying rate in
dimensionless form is defined as:
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003
dx
f = dt (1)
Ê dx ˆ
Á ˜
Ë dt ¯ I
where the normalized moisture content of the solid is,
X - Xhyg
x= (2)
Xkr - Xhyg
and the expression (dx/dt)I is the normalized drying rate in the
first drying period, which depends only on the external process
parameters. The F profile on the other hand is mass and form
dependent, and takes into account the particle properties in
relation to the characteristics of the drying behaviour. F is an
expression of the wetting efficiency of the particle surface
according to Mörl et al. (1981) and Heinrich et al. (1999),
which in the first drying stage is considered to be equal to unity.
The first drying period ends with the reaching of the critical
particle moisture Xkr, for example:
JP ,I = JSat (3)
XP I ≥ Xkr (4)
Second Drying Period (II)
In the second drying period, the drying rate steadily decreases
with the particle moisture, whereas this moisture-dependence is
induced by the particles (capillary porous properties, form, heat
conduction, inhomogeneities). As far as the modeling of the
second drying period is concerned, although numerous different
models are available, a solution is reached only in special cases
and after experimentally determining certain parameters (grain
porosity, caloric conductibility, etc.) (Heinrich et al., 1999). For
the calculation of the drying rate in the second drying period, a
functional approach to describe the normalized drying curve of
the product is adopted, according to which the dependence F
= f(x) in Equation (1) is approximated to be:
F = 5x (5)
When this dependence is unknown, it can easily be estimated
by use of the available experimental apparatus. The second
drying period, and thereby the drying process, ends when the
hygroscopic equilibrium moisture Xhyg of the product is
reached:
JSat < JP ,II < JSt ,in (6)
Xkr > XP ,II ≥ Xhyg (7)
Mass and Energy Balances
The air and particle mass balances, as well as the air particle,
and wall energy balances, based on a differential volume
element, are formulated (Figure 1).
177
 The heat transfer coefficient gas–particle aGP can be Gas Energy Balance
calculated according to Gnielinski (1980). Groenewold and
Tsotsas (1997, 1998) propose a modified equation for low
Reynolds number (low Nusselt number or Sherwood number ∂HG Ê ∂H˙ ˆ
= H˙ G - Á H˙ G + G dz ˜ - dQ˙ GW - dQ˙ GP - dH˙ St ,tr (15)
problems (see Kunii et al., 1991). The heat transfer coefficient ∂t Ë ∂z ¯
between particles and apparatus walls aPW is calculated using
the formulas given by Martin (1994). The heat transfer coefficient
For the heat and enthalpy flows holds:
between gas and chamber walls aGW is calculated according to
the equation of Shi (1997). Kast and Klan (1994) give an
approximation for the wall–environment heat transfer coefficient
aWE.
H˙ G = m [ (
˙ G cair Jair + Y c st Jair + DhV ,0 )] (16)

dz
Gas Mass Balance
dQ˙ GW = aGW AW
hbed
(Jair - JW ) (17)

dz
∂mG
=m
Ê
˙ G - Ám˙G+
∂m˙G ˆ
dz ˜ - dm
˙ st ,tr (8) dQ˙ GP = aGP AP
hbed
(Jair - JP ) (18)
∂t Ë ∂z ¯
and
Particle Mass Balance
The particle mass changes due to the water mass released from
the steam mass flow,
˙ St,tr = dm
dH (
˙ St ,tr cSt Jair + DhV ,0 ) (19)

dmH2O The introduction of Equations (16) to (19) in Equation (15)

˙ St ,tr =
m (9) gives:
dt
∂Jair ∂J
In order to express the particle moisture content, mair (cair + YcSt ) ˙ air (cair + YcSt ) air dz
=m
∂t ∂z
mH2O
X=
mDs
(10)
˙ air cSt Jair + DhV ,0
-m ( ) ∂∂Yz dz
mTS is introduced in Equation (9) and so it holds: dz
- aGW AW
hbed
(Jair - JW )
mH2O
d (20)
m
˙ St ,tr mDS (11)
= dz
mDS dt - aGP AP
hbed
(Jair - JP )
Thus the particle moisture change in a differential time
interval is obtained, as well as the drying rate in dimensional form:
- dm (
˙ St ,tr cSt Jair + DhV ,0 )
dX m ˙ St ,tr
dt
=
mDS
(12)
(
- mair cSt Jair + DhV ,0 ) ∂∂Yt
and in dimensionless form for the different process stages: The gas outlet temperature can be expressed in dimension-
less form as follows:
dx
=
(
mpc p -NTUGP QSt - Qp ( ) (13) NTUGP QP + NTUGW QW
dtI (
mDS cSt NTUGP Xkr - Xhyg ) Qair ,out =
NTUGP + NTUGW
+

+NTUPW ,tot (QP - QW ) ) Ê

+ Á Qair ,in -
NTUGP QP + NTUGW QW ˆ (21)
Ê ˆ NTUGP + NTUGW ˜
JSat DhV ,0 Ë ¯
ÁÁ QSt + + ˜˜
Ë J St ,in - J Sat c (
St St ,in - JSat
J ) ¯
[
exp -(NTUGP + NTUGW ) ]
dx
=
(
mpc p -NTUGP Qst - Qp ( )
(14)
Particle Energy Balance
dtII (
mDS cSt NTUGP Xkr - Xhyg ) The heat and enthalpy flows transferred to the particles over
the entire bed may be expressed as follows:
+NTUPW ,tot (QP - QW ) ) F
Ê ˆ dHP
JSat DhV ,0 = Q˙ GP - Q˙ PW ,tot + H˙ St ,tr (22)
ÁÁ QSt + + ˜˜ dt
Ë J St ,in - J Sat (
cSt JSt ,in - JSat ) ¯

178 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003
 dHW
= Q˙ PW ,tot + Q˙ GW - Q˙ WE (29)
dt

For the heat and enthalpy flows holds:

Q˙ PW ,tot = aPW ,tot AW (JP - JW ) (30)

(
Q˙ GW = aGW AW Jair - JW ) (31)

and

Q˙ WE = aWE AW (JW - JE ) (32)

Under the condition, that the heat capacity of the chamber

walls is not temperature-dependent, the introduction of
Equations (30) to (32) in Equation (29) results after transformation
to the following:
Figure 1. Scheme of the mass and energy balances of the air drying.

dJw
mW cW
dt
(
= aPW ,tot Aw (JP - JW ) + aWG AW Jair - JW )
For the heat and enthalpy flows holds: (33)
- aWE AW (JW - JE )
(
Q˙ GP = aGP AP Jair - JP ) (23)
The chamber wall temperature can be expressed in a
(24)
QPW ,tot = aPW ,tot Aw (JP - JW ) dimensionless form as follows:

and dQW mP cP
dt
=
NTUGP mW cW
[
NTUPW ,tot (QP - QW )
(34)
˙ St,tr = m
H (
˙ St ,tr cSt Jair + DhV ,0 ) (25)
( )
+NTUWG Qair - QW - NTUWE (QW - QE ) ]
And by introducing the above equations in Equation (21):
Process Description and Experimental Set-up
d (mP cP JP ) The pilot plants used within the framework of this study, WSA
dt
( )
= aGP AP Jair - JP - aPW ,tot AW (JP - JW )
DN100 and WSA DN400 of the Otto-von-Guericke-University,
(26)
were operated with hot air as the drying medium for granular
+m (
˙ St .tr cSt Jair + DhV ,0 ) products, whereas WSA DN100 could also use steam.
A scheme of the pilot plant WSA DN100 is presented in
Figure 2. The cylindrical fluidized bed drying chamber of this
The dimensionless particle temperatures for the first and plant has a nominal width of 100 mm and is equipped with a
second drying period are expressed as follows: collapsible distributor plate, in order to discharge the dried
product from the fluidized bed directly after the end of the
process. The maximum air flow of 200 kg/h with a maximum
QP ,I = QSat = 0 (27)
temperature of 300°C is achieved with an exhauster after the
fluidized bed chamber. The pilot plant is equipped with a
with
double sluice for the particle feeding and discharge. In case of
an abrasive or dustforming drying medium, the plant is optionally
dQP
=0 operated with a cyclone to separate the entrained fine particles.
dtI Figure 3a shows a photograph of the fluidized bed pilot plant
WSA DN100.
dQP 1
dtII
=
NTUGP
[
NTUGP Qair - QP ( ) (28)
The fluidized bed plant WSA DN400 (Figure 3b) is a continuous
agglomeration and granulation drying plant with a nominal
width of 400 mm. It can also be used for batch drying. The
]
- NTUPW ,tot (QP - QW ) (1 - F) maximum air flow of 3000 kg/h was achieved with a fresh air
ventilator before, and an exhauster after the fluidized bed
chamber. The maximum process temperature could be up to
Wall Energy Balance
The balancing of the heat flows transferred to the apparatus 400°C. In contrast to the experiments at the WSA DN100 a
wall from the entire bed gives the following: connecting nozzle allows sampling even during the
experiments.

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003 179
Figure 2. Simplified air drying process flow chart of the fluidized bed
pilot plants DN100/DN400.

Table 1. Properties of the g-Al2O3 particles.

Parameter Value Dimensions

particle diameter dP 1.8 mm

–
average pore diameter d pore 10 nm
specific surface area AP,spec 216 m2/g
Al2O3 content 97.9 %
apparent particle density rP 1040 kg/m3
specific total pore volume Vpore,spec 0.74◊10–3 m3/kg
specific heat capacity cP 940 J/(kgK)
specific heat conductivity lP 0.24 W/(mK) Figure 3. Photograph of the fluidized bed pilot plants DN100 (a) and
DN400 (b).

Both apparatuses are equipped with a data measuring

Results
system at a scanning rate of 1.5 s, allowing online recording of
Within the framework of the experimental study, experiments
the temperature profiles over the fluidized bed and under the
were carried out varying the inlet temperature, the gas mass
distributor plate. Temperature and pressure measurement
flow and the bed mass. The accuracy of the simulation by
points are also provided at other parts of the plant as a means
comparing the temperature and drying time profiles of the
of control and their values are logged by the data measuring
experiments to those of the simulation. The process parameters
system. Ni-CrNi-thermocouples are used as temperature
were assummed in both cases to be identical. The physical
sensors, while the pressure sensors are of piezoresistive type.
model has no adaptive parameters. Variable input values,
Furthermore, the pilot plants are equipped with measuring
additional to the process parameters, are the critical moisture,
apparatus for the determination of the mass and volume flows
the final moisture, as well as the characteristic drying profile. As
of the fluidization media. In the DN100 pilot plant, the volume
an example, the results of an experiment compared with those
flow was measured using a swirl and a whirl flowmeter. The
of the simulation are presented in Figure 4.
corresponding mass flows were calculated with the help of the
The process parameters for Experiment 3 were: air mass flow
simultaneously recorded pressure and temperature measurements.
115 kg/h, air inlet temperature 200°C, and initial particle mass
The flow rate measurements of the pilot plant WSA DN400
426 g, while moisture content was 0.6. It is hard to distinguish
were made via an orifice flowmeter calculation in combination
the initial constancy of the moisture during the first drying
with the pressure and temperature measurements.
stage, since it only lasts 3 s under the chosen conditions. After
Experiments have been conducted using g-Al2O3 particles
this short period of time, the particles were heated up to the
(Geldart group D). This material has a spherical structure, a very
saturation temperature and the first drying period begins. The
narrow grain size spectrum and a high surface area, making it
particle and wall temperature profiles based on the model
ideal as a model substance for drying experiments. The ceramic
simulation are presented in Figure 5.
material has a high abrasion resistance, as well as a structure
During the first drying period the drying curve is approximately
and temperature resistance. The drying behaviour of the used
linear. The critical particle moisture was reached after a drying
material has been examined by Burgschweiger et al. (1999)
time of 50 s. The steam outlet temperature increased marginally.
and Groenewold et al. (2000). The material and particle
This tendency of the simulation is confirmed by the measured
properties are summarized in Table 1.
outlet temperature profile over the fluidized bed. This slight

180 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003
Figure 4. Experiment 3: comparison between measured (experiment)
and calculated (simulation) curves.
Figure 5. Experiment 3: calculated temperatures.
Figure 6. Experiment 3: calculated normalized drying curve.
increase was due to the decreasing mass and particle heat
capacity. The process went on to the next stage, namely the
second drying period. The particles warmed up gradually and
the drying rate decreased. The drying process diminished to the
point where after 150 s the particle temperature reached the
average air temperature. At this point the final moisture was
reached, with a value of 0.04, according to the process parameters.
In Figure 6 the drying process is represented using the normalized
drying curve according to van Meel (1958).
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003
Figure 7. Experiment 1–3: variation of the air inlet temperature at
m·air = 115 kg/m3.
The normalized initial particle moisture for the simulation of
Experiment 3 was 2.2. The initial particle moisture value
remained constant through the first heating stage. After the
particles reached the saturation temperature, the first drying
period began. This stage was characterized by the approximate
constancy of the drying rate. The drying rate marginal decrease
is explained by the decreasing wall temperature. After reaching
the critical moisture, corresponding to a normalized moisture of
unity, the normalized drying rate decreased to a value lower
181
 Table 2. Process parameters.

Experiment Jair,in = JG,in m·G = m·air X0 mP,0

No. [∞C] [kg/m3] [kg/kg] [kg]

1 160 115 0.6 0.426

2 175 115 0.6 0.426
3 200 115 0.6 0.426
4 160 52 0.6 0.213
5 200 52 0.6 0.213
6 150 1500 0.6 33.115

than unity. This drying rate decrease was moisture-dependent

(Equation 5). This process is material and form dependent and
may be described for other products to be dried with other
characteristic correlations.
Table 2 summarizes all experiments and their corresponding
parameters, while their evaluation is presented in Figures 7 and
8. Experiments 1 to 5 were carried out at the WSA DN100 pilot
plant.

Evaluation of the Model Transferability and

Scalability
Another batch drying experiment (Experiment 6) with hot air at
the WSA DN400 pilot plant was carried out to evaluate the
model transferability and scalability. Unlike the experiments at
the WSA DN100 pilot plant, with usual batch masses between
200 and 400 g, a 100-fold particle mass was used in this case.
Approximentely 33.115 kg of moist particles were fed into the
drying process.
Due to the fact that in this plant the distributor plate is fixed,
a sudden interruption of the drying process was not possible.
Nevertheless, in order to obtain some moisture values of the
drying process, together with the outlet air temperature profile,
samples were taken and the moisture content was measured.
All in all, 9 samples were taken from the batch for moisture
analysis. The mass was approximately 10 g per sample. Since
the sample mass was very small in comparison to the overall Figure 8. Experiment 4 to 5: variation of the air inlet temperature at
mass, the batch mass decrease was disregarded in the simulation. m·air = 52 kg/m3.
The process parameters of Experiment 6 are: air mass flow 1500
kg/h, inlet air temperature 150°C, initial particle mass 33.115 kg,
and initial particle moisture 0.6.
The comparison of the simulation with the experiment
results at the pilot plant WSA DN400 presented in Figure 9
proves the model transferability to technical plants of larger
dimensions. After a process time of approximately 20 s the
initial stage was completed. The particle temperature had
reached the boundary limit temperature, and the succeeding
stage according to the model, the first drying period, began.
In the first drying period, the particle temperature remained
equal to the saturation temperature corresponding to the initial
conditions. A slight increase of the steam outlet temperature
was observed, just like in Experiment 3. The intensive cooling of
the chamber walls during the first drying period is evident in
Figure 10. The wall temperature decrease caused a decrease
also in the heat flows interrelating with the wall. This caused a
slightly decreasing drying rate during the first drying period.
The first drying period ended after 480 s when the particle Figure 9. Experiment 6: comparison between measured (experiment)
moisture became lower than the critical moisture. Then the and calculated (simulation) curves.
drying rate decreased until the average air temperature reached

182 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003
Figure 10. Experiment 6: calculated temperatures. Figure 11. Experiment 6: calculated normalized drying curve.

the particle temperature, whereas according to the conceived Greek letters

model the driving force of the driving process disappeared. a heat transfer coefficient, (W/(m2K))
Figure 10 shows the time response of the chamber wall J temperature, (°C)
temperature. Figure 11 presents the normalized drying curve of x normalized moisture content of the solid
the simulation of Experiment 6. The drying curve profile is t dimensionless time
based on the mechanisms already described for Experiment 3. F dimensionless drying rate
Nevertheless, the wall temperature decreased more strongly
than in Experiment 3, causing a more significant decrease of the Indices
drying rate in the first drying period. 0 initial, at 0°C
I first drying period
Conclusions II second drying period
air fluidizing air
The presented model helps describe the batch drying process
App apparatus
for granular products in a fluidized bed using hot air as the
bed fluidized bed
fluidizing and drying medium. The influence factors and DS dry solid
mechanisms of the process are theoretically and experimentally E environment
examined. A physical model facilitating the evaluation of the G gas
drying process under idealized conditions was developed. The tot total
model was based on a division of the process in three clearly H heating period
presented and explained successive stages. Alongside with the hyg in hygroscopic equilibrium
description of the boundary conditions and conditions of H2O water
existence of every stage, the mechanisms of the mass and heat in at inlet
transfer taking effect are also described. Mass and energy kr critical
out at outlet
balances for all components were formulated. What distinguishes
P particle
this model is the assumption, that the entire drying process is Sat saturation point
based on heat exchange mechanisms. The sufficient accuracy of St steam
the model for practice-oriented applications was reconfirmed St,tr steam in transition
by experiments carried out in pilot plants of different sizes and tot total
varied process parameters. W wall

Nomenclature Dimensionsless Coefficients

A surface, (m2) ai Ai
c specific heat capacity, (J/(kg·K)) NTUi = number of transfer units
m
˙ GCG
D diameter, (m)
DhV specific heat of evaporation, (J/kg) Ji - JSat
H enthalpy, (J) Qi = dimensionless temperature
· JSt ,in - JSat
H enthalpy flow, (J/s)
h height, (m)
m mass, (kg) References
m· mass flow, (kg/s) Baehr, H. D. and K. Stephan, “Wärme- und Stoffübertragung“,
·
Q heat flow, (W) Springer-Verlag, Germany, Berlin, Heidelberg (1994).
t time, (s) Burgschweiger, J., H. Groenewold, C. Hirschmann and E. Tsotsas, “From
X particle moisture content (dry basis), (kg/kg) Hygroscopic Single Particle to Batch Fluidized Bed Drying Kinetics”,
Y gas moisture content (dry basis), (kg/kg) Can. J. Chem. Eng. 77, 333–341 (1999).
z height coordinate, (m) Gnielinski, V., “Wärme- und Stoffübertragung in Festbetten“, Chem.-
Ing.-Tech. 52, 228–236 (1980).

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003 183
Gnielinski, V., A. Mersmann and F. Thurner, “Verdampfung,
Kristallisation, Trocknung“, Verlag Viehweg, Germany, Braunschweig
(1993).
Groenewold, H. and E. Tsotsas, “A New Model for Fluid Bed Drying”,
Drying Technology 15, 1687–1698 (1997).
Groenewold, H. and E. Tsotsas, “Predicting Apparent Sherwood
Numbers for Fluidized Beds”, in Drying ’98 – Proc. 11th Int. Drying
Symp., Halkidiki, Greece, Aug. 19–22, 192–199 (1998).
Groenewold, H., C. Hirschmann, J. Burgschweiger and E. Tsotsas,
“Comparison of Convective Drying Kinetics of Active and Inactivated
Al2O3”, Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences 48, 369–382
(2000).
Heinrich, S., G. Krüger and L. Mörl, “Modelling of the Batch Treatment
of Wet Granular Solids with Superheated Steam in Fluidised Beds”,
Chem. Eng. Process. 38, 131–142 (1999).
Hilligardt, K. and J. Werther, “Local Bubble Gas Hold-up and Expansion
of Gas/Solid Fluidized Beds“, Ger. Chem. Eng. 9, 215–221 (1986).
Kast, W. and H. Klan, “Wärmeübergang durch freie Konvektion an
umströmten Körpern“, VDI-Wärmeatlas, Fa1-Fa7, 7th ed., VDI-Verlag,
Düsseldorf, Germany (1994).
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Manuscript received March 5, 2002; revised manuscript received
January 8, 2003; accepted for publication February 25, 2003.
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 81, April 2003