Drying of Solids in Vacuum Fluidized Bed
Bulent Umur Kozanoglu' * , Juan Antonio Vilchez2, Joaquim Casa12 and
Josep Arnaldos2
Mechanical E n g h r i n g Department. Universidad de las Ambicas, 72820 Santa Catanna*
Chemical Engineer@ w. Universitat Iblit&c!nicade catalunya, Diagonal, 647, 08028-BarceIona. Catalonia,
Spain
A
significant number of researchers have devoted their interest to
fluidized bed drying and a good number of papers have been
published in the area, covering theoretical as well as experimental
aspects. In this type of process three different tasks have to be
accomplished by gas fluidization: establish proper dynamic fluidization
conditions, bring enough heat, and remove all evaporated moisture
without saturation. A good contact between particles and fluid provides
very high rates of heat and mass transfer in the bed. Also, through a very
good level of solids mixing a practically homogeneous bed temperature
is achieved to facilitate temperature control. Due to these qualities,
fluidization is considered one of the most appealing processes in the
chemical industry. A particular type of fluidization, spouted bed, has also
been used for drying grain over the last 40 years.
However, the use of the fluidized bed in the drying process has been
abandoned in some fields, such as in the fine chemicals and the
pharmaceutical industries, because of complications with thermal
degradation and safety. Thermolabile products can be subject to the
partial degradation in drying processes a t relatively high temperatures or
long residence times. At the same time, in the pharmaceutical industry
the process is oftenly involved with evaporation of an organic solvent; as
a result, a mixture within the flammability limits but with a high risk of
explosion can be formed. Operating a fluidized bed under vacuum
conditions offers the possibility of eliminating these problems. The
degree of thermal degradation can be reduced by lowering operating
temperatures provided under vacuum conditions. At the same time, a
safer process outside of flammability limits can be achieved through
low-pressure operation.
Nevertheless, relatively few papers have been published on fluidization
under vacuum conditions. In one of the first studies on the hydrodynamics
of fluidized beds at reduced pressure, a bed behaviour similar to that
found a t atmospheric pressure was observed by Kawamura and Suezawa
(1961). Cermain and Claude1 ( 1 976) detected the coexistence of an
upper fluidized layer and a zone of fixed bed. The existence of a fluidized
upper layer in the bed was also observed by Kusakabe et al. (1989), at
the point when the bed pressure drop and the absolute operating
pressure basically have the same order of magnitude. In their low
pressure experiments, Wraith and Harris ( 1 992) measured the same type
of pressure drop characteristics and observed a fluidization front
progressing downwards with increasing gas flow. In a later study,
Llop e t al. (1996) proposed an equation to calculate the minimum
*Author to whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail address:
bulent@mail. udlap.my
376
M&, Puebla. Mexico
A drying process in a fluidized bed under vacuum
conditions is experimentally and theoretically studied.
A fluidized bed operating in reduced pressure presents
a possibility for a better quality of production, with
safer process conditions. A mathematical model is
developed for the reduced-pressure drying process in
a fluidized bed. Some parameters were analyzed by
comparing experimental results with model predictions.
The predictions from the model agreed quite closely
with the experimentaldata. The results showed that a
decrease in pressure reduces the interparticular
resistance. A good agreement was also found
applying the model to data, at atmospheric pressure,
from other authors.
On a 6tudi6 de manik thbrique et exp5rimentale
le procedb de s6chage en lit fluidis6 dans des
conditions de vide. Un lit fluidis6 fonctionnant a
pression r6duite s'avhre une possibilit6 pour une
meilleure qualit6 de production, avec des conditions
de proc6d6 plus slires. Un modhle mathernatique a
6th 6tabli pour le procCd6 de skhage a pression
r6duite dans un lit fluidis6. On a analys6 certains
parametres en comparant les r6sultats exp6rimentauxet
les pddictions du rnodhle. Les pr6dictions du modhle
concordent plutt3t bien avec les donnks exp6rimen-
tales. Les r6sultats rnontrent qu'une diminution de la
pression entrahe une rkiuction de la &stanceinterpar-
ticulaire. On a 6galement trouvb un bon accord en
appliquant le modhle aux donnks d'autres auteurs
obtenues a la pression atmosphbrique
Keywords: fluidization, drying, modelling, parametric
analysis, vacuum.
fluidization velocity. This equation has a very wide
range of application, from vacuum to high pressure.
Fletcher et al. (1 993) defined the minimum fluidiza-
tion velocity for multi-sized particles fluidized at
reduced pressure.
One of the earliest studies of fluidized bed drying
was carried out by Hoebink and Rietema (1980). They
developed a three-phase model based on perfectly
mixed dense and bubble phases together with a
cloud phase taken in plug flow. Later on, Palancz
( 1 983) proposed another three-phase model for
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002
steady state operation of a continuous fluidized bed. Thomas balance of the solid phase can be expressed by the following
and Varma ( 1 992) experimentally investigated the effect of equation:
operating temperature, superficial gas velocity, particle size and
mass of solids on the drying rate for granular cellular materials
and presented a receding core model. Another
three-phase model was developed by Kannan et al. (1994); these
authors also considered perfectly mixed phases of solid and
interstitial gas, while assuming a constant bubble size through
the bed axis and neglecting the time-dependent variation of In this equation, Ygs is taken as the saturation moisture in the
the interstitial gas phase. operating conditions since a constant drying rate period is
Arnaldos et al. (1998) carried out a series of vacuum- under consideration.
fluidized bed drying experiments with various types of particles The moisture balance of the gas phase, in an infinitesimal
and observed that the effect of reducing the operating pressure element of bed height of dz, is given by the following expression:
is greater on drying rates of porous particles. Only a few more
publications on fluidized bed drying in vacuum conditions are
available (fuchs and Zeller, 1992; Zanchetta and Aldo, 1993).
In this paper, a transient batch fluidized bed model for solid
drying in vacuum conditions is introduced. The model consists
of two perfectly mixed phases, solid phase and gas phase, and a [ ( I - 6 + 6 fw)~,,U,f + 6(i - fW)ub]
considers the variation of bubble size and velocity throughout = Yg
az
the bed axis. fluidization parameters available in the technical
literature were used in the model. Some model parameters, dY
such as effective diffusivity of moisture through solid particles + [(1-6+6fw)E,, + 6 ( 1 - f w ) dt
]A
and mass transfer coefficient around the particles, were
determined comparing the model predictions with experimental
results. Finally, the results were discussed in terms of various In Equation (2), the term on the lefthand side of the equality
parameters involved in the phenomenon. sign is the moisture exchange with the solid phase. The terms
on the righthand side represent the net moisture flow through
Theoretical Model the element and the moisture gain of gas phase per unit time,
The mathematical model takes the bed to be comprised of two respectively. The net moisture flow term includes a derivative to
phases, a gas phase and a solid phase with mass and heat take into account the variation of bubble size and velocity along
transfer between them. Also, perfect mixing of solid particles the bed axis. Although the volumetric flow rate of gas phase
and gas was assumed to consider the moisture content of solid
through the bed axis doesn’t vary, the portion of that carried by
particles and air to be homogeneous throughout the bed axis
bubbles does. Namely, the bubble surface area interchanging
a t a given moment during the process. In the experimental part
of the work, the flow rate of gas was far in excess of the air moisture by the solid phase is also varying through the axis.
needed (u/uml = 3 . 3 + 8.2) for the drying operation alone. Then, this variation gives the partial character to this derivative.
Because of this, the change in air moisture from the bottom to The model considers the temperature variation of each
the top of the bed for a given moment was assumed to be phase separately; unlike other models that assume the drying
negligible. The temperature measurements along the bed also medium leaving the bed to be in thermal equilibrium with the
supported the assumption of ideal mixed flow; in all cases, the particles. The particles were assumed to be small enough so
average temperature difference between the top and the that the internal resistances to heat transfer were negligible.
bottom of the bed was between 0.4 K to 1.6 K. However, The energy balance of the solid phase was written:
variations of bubble size, bubble velocity and bubble volume
fraction as a function of distance from distributor were included
in the model. For both phases, energy and mass balance
equations were employed. Constant drying rate and falling
drying rate periods were considered separately. The constant (3)
drying rate period is governed fully by the rates of external heat
and mass transfer since a film of free water is always available a t
the evaporating surface. This period is nearly independent of
the material being dried. On the other hand, in the falling
drying period water cannot migrate to the surface a t a sufficient In this equation, the lefthand side corresponds to the heat
rate due to internal transport limitations and the drying rate transferred from the gas phase to the solid phase. The first term
starts to decrease. Both the material and drying conditions control of the righthand side is a representation of the rate at which
this period. A distinction between these periods is made through
energy is accumulated in the solid phase. The last term
the experimental value of critical moisture, C,,,.
represents the sum of the latent heat of evaporation (at To) and
Constant Drying Rate Period the enthalpy (referred to To) of the evaporating liquid, i.e., the
In this period, the principal resistance to moisture movement is enthalpy of the vapour leaving the solid phase.
around the particle. Therefore, particles were considered Finally, the energy balance of the gas phase is given by the
uniform in moisture content. Under these assumptions moisture following expression:

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002 377
 Round particles (4 > 0.8):

(4) Kn, + 0.0309

Sharp particles (0.5< I$5 0 . 8 ) :

The lefthand side of Equation ( 4 ) is a combination of the

energy exchange with the solid phase and the energy leaving
Remf = [[ Kn, +
1'9
0.0492
+ O.O57lAr]
y2

(1 1 )
the solid phase with the evaporated moisture. The net energy
flow through the control volume with hot gases and the rate of 1.9
energy accumulation in the gas phase are represented by the Kn, + 0.0492
first and the second terms of the righthand side of Equation (4),
respectively.
For prediction of the heat and mass transfer coefficients The expression given by Nicklin (1962) was used to calculate
between the gas and solid phases the following relationships the bubble rise velocity:
were proposed by Ranz ( 1 952):

NU = 2 + 1.8 Re;.'

The voidage of the emulsion phase is determined by the

Sh = 2 + 1.8Re:' Sc0*33 (6)
equation suggested by Broadhurst and Becker ( 1 975):

0.029 0.021
These relationships, originally given for a fixed bed, can also be 4
used in fluidized beds of big particles, according to Kunii and
Levenspiel ( 1 991). The Ranz equation was developed for an
application range of 1 < ReP < 70000. The range of ReP
emf = 0 ~ 8 6 4 - ' . ~ ~ [
Pg(Pws - Pg)gd; ] (51 (1 3)

encountered in this work falls within these limits as observed on Following the two-phase theory proposed by Toomey and
Table 1 . The conditions in which Equation (6) was derived Johnstone (1952), the volumetric flow rate of bubbles and
correspond to the falling drying rate period and this equation wakes is introduced into the model:
can be employed only in this period.
The Mori and Wen model (1975) was employed to predict
the size and growth of bubbles along the bed axis: 6 = u - urnf (14)
Ub(1- fw)

In large particle beds, such as the one simulated in this study,

dbrn - db
= exp(-0.3~/ 4) (7) deviation from the two-phase theory is remarkable and visible
dbrn - dbo
bubble flow rate concept gains a special importance. Following
(8) Clicksman et al. (1991), the concept of visible bubble flow rate
dbo = 0.347[A (U - U,f) / nd]0'40 is taken into consideration. They suggested a value of y = 0.3 for
(9) a large particle bed, where the minimum fluidization velocity i s
0.40 of the same order as the bubble rise velocity. Therefore, the
dbm = 0.652[A(u - U , f ) ]
bubble growth model of Mori and Wen (1975) is modified in
the following form:

The minimum fluidization velocity was evaluated by the

equation developed by Llop et al. ( 1 996), who, after calculating dbo '
= 0.347(y A (' - ' m f 1 nd)0'40
the values of the diverse constants for two arbitrary categories
of particles, 'round particles' (4 > 0.8) and 'sharp particles', (0.5 dbm = 0 . 6 w A ( u - Um,))0'40
< 4 5 0 . 8 ) , obtained the following equations:

378 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002
 0.45 1
Falling Drying Rate Period
The falling drying rate period is characterized by a more
appreciable resistance to moisture diffusion through the solid 0.4
-we(
particles and this effect was taken into account by Fick’s
diffusion. In spherical co-ordinates, the one-dimensional
-P
E

transient diffusion equation is given by: i?

0

r“
i8
0.35
1 *\

ac’
- 0.3
m
at 1,
0 T,=308K
0.25 - P=ZOkPa
u = 2.5
2 5 Ws
ws
where dp=leoOw
D,, 2 0. 0x ~1 01 ~m’/s
0~
0.24 I
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
t (S)

Figure la. Comparison between experimental and predicted values of

At this period, all the equations presented for the constant humidity profiles for millet drying.
drying rate period are still valid where C is taken as the volume
average of C,.
,C is defined as the average solid moisture that would be
reached following a considerably long period of processing;
after a certain time, under given operating conditions, it will be
impossible to remove more moisture out of the solid, and this 300
value of the moisture is named equilibrium moisture, C,
obviously a function of operating conditions. In this worf;
experimentally obtained values of , C are used.
Equation (1 7) has an analytical solution (Crank, 1956; Walas,
1991) with the following initial condition:
MYY
T,=308K
290
P = 20 kPa
u = 2.5 Ws
do= 1 8 0 0 ~
0, = 2 . 0 ~ 1 0r n~ b
and the following boundary conditionswhen the problem 285 -/
parameters are known: 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
t (s)

Figure 1b. Comparison between experimental and predicted values of

temperature profiles for millet drying.

0.3

-
I!
0.25
c
In this problem Ddis the effective diffusivity and is considered to
H? 0.2
be the free moisture content of the solid particles at a given
0
moment and radius. Clearly, in the falling drying rate period Yg?,
0.15
moisture concentration of gas phase on the particle surface IS
not the saturation moisture in the operating conditions
anymore.
8
0
0.1
.r
However, the lack of information in the technical literature
0.05
concerning the above-mentioned parameters limits the applica-
tion of the analytical solution.
04
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
Numerical Procedure
t (I)
In the constant drying rate period, values of Sherwood number
predicted by the classical Ranz equation, Equation (6), were
found to be in a higher order of magnitude than the
experimentally found values (Kozanoglu et al., 2001). Then, a Figure 2. Comparison of experimental and calculated value5 of
lack of sufficient information on some physical parameters of humidity profiles of silica gel particles a t different absolute pressures.

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002 379

l
o P=50kPa
~ e ( 1.7xlO"m'ls
=
Figure 3. Comparison of experimental and calculated values of
humidity profiles of millet particles at different absolute pressures.
the model led to the development of a non-linear regression
code to evaluate the values of two model parameters: in the
falling drying rate period, the effective diffusivity of moisture
through solid particles, Def; and in the constant drying rate
period the mass transfer coefficient, k,. There is only one fit
parameter in each drying period. The code combines some
IMSL libraries with a differentialsystem solver, DSS/2 (Pirkle and
Schiesser, 1987). The system of partial differential equations
was numerically solved using the method of Runge-Kutta,
combined with the numerical method of lines, for a given set of
the two parameters, one in each period. Then, the regression
model, by comparing the solutions of the model equations with
experimental data, optimizes these parameters.
Equations (l), (2), (3), (4)and (17) are a set of five partial
differential equations with C, Yq Tq T, and c" as dependent
variables. In the falling drying rate period, Ygs, moisture
concentration of gas phase on the particle surface, cannot be
taken as the saturation moisture anymore and appears to be
another unknown. Therefore, to be able to count with a proper
number of unknowns, experimental values of Y as a function
of time, are fed into the system and Y is calcu&ed out of the
system of differential equations. Therefkre, the only parameters
not defined by empirical correlations are D,, in the falling drying
rate period, and k, in the constant drying rate period. A first
rough approach could suppose values for these parameters,
solving numerically the system of equations by using DSS/2 and
comparing the results with experimental values as a function of
time. By using appropriate values of D,,and k, in their respective
periods, smoothed curves similar to those plotted in Figures 1,
2 and 3 could be obtained for C(t). However, a more accurate
estimation was obtained in a similar way, but by using an
optimization program in order to minimize the error between
the model results and the experimental data. For practical
reasons, the objective function was expressed as
ZIC(t),xpbmnto, - C(t),,,,,,l2. Finally, the problem to be solved
was to make a regression to C(t). The model was not analytical
but numerical. The solution had to be handled with care
because the model was expressed in partial differential
equations and there was certainly a possibility of finding
numerical problems or arriving a t prohibitive execution times in
usual computers. The NRLIN IMSL library for non-linear regres-
sion was found useful for this purpose.
The computational model also takes into account the
variations in physical properties as a function of the operating
temperature and pressure by applying the equations given by
Nelson (1 980).
Results and Discussion
Experimental
A series of fluidized bed drying experiments was carried out
under vacuum conditions using a setup described elsewhere
(Llop et al., 1996). The fluidization column, constructed of
glass, had an i.d. of 70 mm and a height of 600 mm. The
column was fitted with a stainless-steel perforated distributor
that had openings 1 mm in diameter, with 3% free area and a
calming section filled with Raschig rings located underneath.
Drying tests were run with air at two temperatures, 308k1 K
and 343*1 K, and three absolute pressures, 20 kPa, 40 kPa and
50 kPa. The vacuum conditions were achieved through a rotary
vacuum pump and the air was heated before entering the bed
by a system of electrical resistances up to the desired temperature.
The column was also equipped with temperature and pressure
measuring probes as well as sampling points. The column
pressure was measured by two systems: by a vacuometer
located in the downstream of the column, and by the difference
between the pressure measured by a differential manometer
located at the top of the column and the atmospheric pressure.
Pressure drop in the bed was in the range of 0.5 to 0.8 kPa.

Table 1. Some parameters obtained under various operating conditions for the two different types of solid.

Solid 'gin P U dP MO Bi, Bi Rep Ar Umf *,f ccrit ccq

(K) (kW (m/s) (vm) (kg) (m/s) (m2/s) (kg/kg) (kg/kg)
Silica gel 308 20 2.0 975 0.25 61 828 0.033 23.7 4763 0.257 5.1 xlo-'2 0.150 0.041
308 50 2.0 975 0.25 76 359 0.047 58.6 1 1 020 0.243 2 . 5 ~ 1 V ~0.146
~ 0.071
308 20 1.5 975 0.25 40273 0.029 17.7 4758 0.257 4.5~1V'~ 0.150 0.030
343 20 1.5 975 0.25 3 621 333 0.028 16.1 4510 0.257 4.5~10-l~ 0.083 0.013
343 20 1.5 975 0.40 1006 0.028 16.3 4815 0.257 5.1~10-'~0.087 0.022
308 20 2.0 1 600 0.25 1 1 558 0.038 34.7 20 31 7 0.613 1.9x10-" 0.176 0.059
Millet 343 20 2.0 1800 0.35 41 894 0.089 38.6 27 580 0.597 1.7~1 0-' - 0.078
343 50 2.0 1800 0.35 20 399 0.133 99.8 69 910 0.496 1.5xlV" - 0.064
308 20 2.5 1800 0.35 1745 0.105 56.6 27 354 0.597 2 . 00-9~ - 0.210
343 20 2.5 1 800 0.35 10 795 0.098 49.0 27 707 0.597 1 .4x1V10 - 0.072

380 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002
Therefore, the pressure variation in the gas was practically
negligible as compared to the absolute pressure. A hygrometer
was employed to measure the relative moisture in the exit of
the column.
As the drying rate in the fluidized bed is strongly affected by
particle characteristics, two solids with fairly different structures
were used in the experiments: silica gel (dp = 975 pm, 1600
pm; p = 71 1 kg/m3; I$ = 0.7) and millet ( d p = 1800 pm, p =
P period, particles are surrounded by a continuous film and the
700 kg/m3, @ = 0.9). These particles are Celdart B p a r t i c k
close to the boundary of geldart D particles, with a clear
possibilty of forming a bubbling regime. The fixed bed heights
were between 6.7 cm and 12.2 cm in these experiments. In
fluidized conditions, bed heights between 25 cm and 40 cm
were obtained. Operating conditions of the simulated tests, as
well as experimentally found values of Cq and C,,,, are listed in
Table 1. This table also includes values of the minimum fluidiza-
tion velocity evaluated by Equations (1 0) and (1 1).
The results of these experiments (Arnaldos et al., 1998), and
details of the experimental setup (Llop et al., 1996) are
presented elsewhere.
Model Solutions
The model was tested under various operating conditions.
Figures 1a and 1b show simulation and experimental data for a
typical drying experiment with particles of millet. As observed
in Figure l a , predicted and experimental values of the solid
moisture are in good agreement. The model also accurately
predicted the time-dependent variation of the gas temperature
as displayed in Figure l b . At the beginning of the drying
process, the bed content experiences a severe temperature
drop because of the high rate of heat removal by the
evaporated water. Then, the temperature starts to increase to
reach an equilibrium value. Gas and particle temperatures are
calculated separately by the model. In all the simulated cases,
the gas temperature was found to be slightly higher than the
solid particle temperature, never exceeding a difference of 0.2
K. As observed in Figure 1 b, the drying process is not isother-
mal as a function of time (since it is a batch process). Therefore,
a classical plot like the drying flux vs. moisture content of the
solids - usually obtained at isothermal conditions - would
not be possible in this case.
A comparison of experimental and calculated values of
transient moisture profiles of silica gel particles are presented in
Figure 2 for two different vacuum pressures. In a lower pressure
operation, a slightly higher drying rate during most of the
process as well as a lower equilibrium moisture at the end of
the operation are obtained, as observed in the figure. Figure 3
shows the same type of comparison for particles of millet.
However, for particles of millet, the lower pressure results in a
lower drying rate. The different internal structures of these two
solids are responsible for these opposite behaviours (Arnaldos
et al., 1998; Madrid et al., 1998). The reduced pressure
operation induces a decrease in heat and mass removal rates
for both types of particles, while enhancing the internal
diffusivity through the porous structure of silica gel particles.
However, the compact internal structure of millet particles
doesn't allow the internal diffusivity to be affected by the
variation in pressure and, as a result, the improvement of the
drying rate obtained in the case of porous particles is not
observed with the particles of millet. Values of effective diffusiv-
ity presented in Table 1 support this conclusion. This point is
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002
discussed in more detail in the text that follows. As seen in the
figures, the model satisfactorily predicts experimental data for
these cases. A good degree of agreement has been achieved
between the experimental results and model predictions for a
wide variety of operating conditions.
The equation of Ranz, Equation (6), is more proper in the
falling drying rate period to calculate the mass transfer coefficient
between gas and solid phases. In the constant drying rate
gas on the particle surface is at saturated conditions, where the
Ranz equation provides values of Sherwood number much
higher than the experimentally obtained ones. Therefore, in the
constant drying rate period, matching the model predictions to
the experimental data, the following equation was developed to
estimate the mass transfer coefficient (Kozanoglu et al., 2001):
Sh = 5882 Re;07 Knp2.94
In the reduced pressure operations, in a broad range of
experimental conditions, the Sherwood number was found to
be less sensitive to the Schmidt number, but dependent on the
Knudsen number. The experimental values of the Sherwood
number, as well as values suggested by Equation (22), are found
to be in a good agreement (Kozanoglu et al., 2001) with the
correlations proposed by Ciesielczyk (1 996), Kmiec and
Kucharski (1 991) and Heertjes e t al. (1 953), all for the constant
drying rate period.
In the falling drying period the experimentally obtained
values of Yg moisture concentration of the gas phase, are
introduced to the computer code as a function of time. Hence,
D,, is treated as the only fit parameter in this period and Y4s is
obtained through the solution of the model equations. Y IS a
function of temperature, and temperature is related to 0,'
the
solid moisture content. Figure 4a presents variation of Ygs as a
function of Cfor two distinct operating pressures in case of silica
gel drying. Both the constant drying rate and the falling drying
rate periods are demonstrated in the figure, connected with
dotted lines, since the model makes the distinction between the
nna
""I ,
Slllca gel
T*=308K
u-2nrls
d, = 975w
0 o012 1
O
04
A I
Figure 4a. Variation of moisture concentration of gas phase on the
particle surface as a function of solid moisture content for silica gel
particles (Ygs is a function of temperature, and temperature is related
to c).
381
 n no
0.6
,
~

0.5 - ,T, = 358 K (Thoma and Varma. 1992)

I
0.4 - Musw
0
P = 101.3kPa
b5 -
0.04 r" 0.3 - U= 1.81 rms
Ir dp= 1 7 W w
-c 0.03 -
i
m f
0.2 -
J
0.02 -
t
L
L, 0.1 -
0.01 - :
#: I
I

- _
: I
*
0,
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
t (8)
C (kg walerlkg dry rolld)

Figure 7a. Comparison between experimental data by Thomas and

Figure 4b. Driving force for mass transfer as a function of solid Varma (1992) and predictions by the model.
moisture content for silica gel particles (driving force is a function of
temperature, and temperature is related to C).

u=/5
0035 1 Tg=313K(Chandranetal..1990)
o To= 388 K (Chandran el al.. 1990)

0030. M'lle'
T,=343K
m 0.4
d,= laMlpm P = 101.3 kPa

56 0 0 2 50 .- 70.34 \ \ u = 0.74 lrJs

do= 585 wm

I 0015-
m
r
p 0010.

O'li ,\
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
00 01 02 03 04 05 t (8)

C (kg wltwlka dry SOW)

Figure 7b.Comparison between experimental data by Chandran e t al.
(1990) and predictions by the model.
Figure 5. Variation of moisture concentration of gas phase on the
particle surface as a function of solid moisture content for miliet
particles. two regimes through a single value of ,C,, but not a transition
period. The rapid increase of Yg5 in the beginning of the
constant drying period is a result of the severe temperature
variation in the bed before reaching the desired operation
05 - temperature. As observed in the figure, during the lower
pressure operation the moisture concentration of gas phase on
the particle surface, Ygs, is higher and for this pressure a higher
driving force for mass transfer is achieved. The driving force for
mass transfer, ( Y -Y ), for the same cases is shown in Figure 4b.
95 g
As seen in the figure, during the falling drying rate period the
driving force reaches very low values, since the particle surface
0 02- moisture content is much lower. The effect of the operating
pressure in this period is also quite insignificant. In case of millet
01 - 1,=343K
u= 2mls
particles only the falling drying rate period was observed as
ap= 1 m p m presented in Figure 5 , Ygs assumes slightly higher values in
lower operating pressure.
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 In the falling drying rate period, the model calculates the
I(a) values of D , effective diffusivity of moisture through solid
particles defined by Equation (1 7), by applying the non-linear
regression code. The values of this coefficient are also given in
Figure 6. Figure 6 . Influence of diffusivity coefficient.

382 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002
 Table 2. Coefficients of effective diffusivity evaluated by Thomas and Varma (1 992) and predicted by the model.
Mustard 338 101.3
(Thomas and Varma, 1992) 358 101.3
Resin 31 3 101.3
(Chandran et al., 1990) 368 101.3
*Evaluated by Thomas and Varma (1 992).
"Predicted by the present model.
Table 1. As seen in this table the effective diffusivity is more
influenced by the operating pressure in case of porous particles
of silica gel. For example, in the cases presented in Figures 2
and 3, decreasing pressure from 50 kPa to 20 kPa increases the
effective diffusivity from 2 . 5 ~ 1 0m2/s
- ~ ~to 5.1~10-l2m2/s for
silica gel particles while this increase is only from 1.5~10-'
m2/s to 1.7xlO-" m2/s for millet particles. For both types of
particles, a t higher operating temperatures, however, lower
coefficients of effective diffusivities are obtained. In all cases,
the values of the coefficient were in the same order of
magnitude as the ones reported in the technical literature for
the drying processes a t atmospheric pressure (Uckan and Ulku,
1986;Hallstrom and Wimmerstedt, 1983).
On the other hand, the interparticular effective diffusivity
higher than a certain value played a smaller role in solid
moisture profiles. This behaviour can be explained in terms of
the mass Biot number. Figure 6 displays solid moisture profiles
for a given set of operating conditions, namely for a given value
of k, considering different values of effective diffusivity. A
higher value of effective diffusivity constitutes a lower internal
resistance to mass transfer and a smaller value of the mass Biot
number. As seen in the figure, the lower the mass Biot number
is, the more insignificant the variations on the solid moisture
profiles are, being almost on top of each other for the two
lowest mass Biot numbers. Parti (1991)found that for values of
the mass Biot number smaller than 1.5, the internal resistance
to heat and mass transfer can be totally neglected. Table 1
presents values of mass Biot number obtained under various
operating conditions for the two different types of solid
particles. As seen in the table, the values of the mass Biot
number are much higher than the limit reported by Parti
(1991)and therefore for cases presented in Table 1, interpar-
ticular diffusion is important.
In technical literature, the interparticular diffusion is
reported as the major resistance in the drying process a t
atmospheric pressure. However, the results of this work imply
that the internal resistance is relatively lower a t reduced
pressure operations, especially in case of porous particles.
In Figure 7a, the predictions of the model are compared to
the experimental data of Thomas and Varma (1992) for
fluidized bed drying of mustard. Although the experiments of
Thomas and Varma (1992)were carried out in atmospheric
pressure, the vacuum-fluidized bed drying model provides a
very good agreement with their experimental data. Values of
the coefficient of effective diffusivity, predicted by the present
model and evaluated by Thomas and Varma (1 992),are listed
in Table 2. Again, a satisfactory agreement is found between
these values. Figure 7b presents a similar comparison and a
good agreement between the model predictions and data
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Volume 80, June 2002
1.61 1700 3.8x10-"* 6 . 8 ~01-' 47x1O6
1.61 1700 5 . 2 ~ 0-1
1 l* 5.1x1V1' 199x1O6
0.74 565 - 4 . 6 ~ 0-l1
1 2 . 8 ~O6
1
0.74 565 - 6.2~10-' 2 . 4 ~O6
1
taken by Chandran et al. (1990)in a fluidized bed of ion-exchange
resin particles for two different operating temperatures.
Experiments of Chandran et al. (1 990)were also carried out a t
atmospheric pressure. The values of the effective diffusivity
calculated by the model for these experiments are found to be
in the same order of magnitude with the values of the other
cases a t the atmospheric pressure as presented in Table 2.
Thus, it can be concluded that, since the present model is
capable of predicting the magnitude of the values of the
effective diffusivity for operations a t the atmospheric pressure,
vacuum operating conditions can be responsible for the
previously presented slightly lower values of effective diffusivity.
Namely, the reduced pressure decreases the interparticular
resistance.
Limitations of the Model and Justificationof
Assumptions
The model originally was developed as a three-phase model;
solid phase, bubble phase and interstitial gas phase. The
original approach also assumed the bed was in plug flow
instead of being an ideally mixed one. The first simulations
showed that the bubble and interstitial gas phases had practi-
cally the same values of moisture and temperature.
Applying the plug flow model in the gas phase for an allotted
time showed that temperature and moisture concentration
differences between the bottom and the top of the bed never
exceeded 0.8 K (less than 0.25% of the inlet gas temperature)
and 0.0002 kg water/kg dry air (again, less than 2% of the
moisture concentration of the incoming air), respectively, for
the few simulated cases. For these cases, using a PC of 220
MHz, the computer processing time was around 10 to 12 d.
Under these conditions the approximation was modified as an
ideally mixed two-phase model.
It should also be mentioned that the model is applicable for
particles of Celdart B as well as Celdart A where bubbling
regime is encountered. However, it does not cover the case of a
turbulent bed regime. But, in the cases simulated and presented
in this work, turbulent regime has not been encountered,
although some cases are close to the regime of transition to
turbulence, considering the Archimedes and Reynolds numbers
presented in Table 1 and maps given by Arnaldos and Casal
(1996). On the other hand, the high ratio of superficial gas
velocity to the minimum fluidization velocity with the experiments
justifies the assumption of perfect mixing for solids and gas.
Biot numbers for heat transfer for the simulated cases are
listed in Table 1. As observed in this table, the maximum value
of Biot number attained in this study is 0.133 and the assump-
tion of negligible resistance to heat transfer through solid particles
is justifiable.
383
 reference temperature To, (kJ/kg)
Conclusions gas temperature, (K)
The proposed mathematical model predicts fairly well the
>. inlet gas temperature, (K)
drying process for the different regimes (constant drying rate
and decreasing drying rate periods) and solids (silica gel, millet, 7y temperature of solid particles, (K)
reference temperature for enthalpy calculation, taken as
TO
mustard and ion-exchange resin) to which it has been tested. 273.15 K
Although the model has been derived specifically for t time, (s)
vacuum-fluidized bed drying, being developed from a 'b bubble rise velocity, (m/s)
fundamental approach by solving the mass and energy U superficial gas velocity, (m/s)
balances and employing classical and reliable correlations for "m/ minimum fluidization velocity, (m/s)
the estimation of different parameters, it can also be applied to
atmospheric pressure drying.
The results presented in this paper seem to indicate that a
ts moisture concentration of gas phase, (kg water/kg dry air)
moisture concentration of gas phase on the particle surface,
(kg water/kg dry air)
Y average mole fraction of non-diffusing component
reduction in operating pressure enhances the diffusion in the Z vertical distance from the distributor, (m)
solid-gas system and plays a favourable role in the drying
process, although at the same time the transport capacity of the
exterior medium is decreased. A further study using the present Greek Symbols
model will provide information on the optimum operating Y visible bubble flow rate
conditions that permit an enhancement in the diffusion of the 6 volumetric fraction of bubbles and wakes in the bed
system and avoid a major increase in outside resistance. Em/ porosity in minimum fluidization conditions
During the falling drying rate period, values of effective h mean free path of molecules, (m)
thermal conductivity of gas, (W/m.K)
diffusivity, under various operating conditions, are presented.
hP thermal conductivity of solid particles, (W/m.K)
These values are found to be in the same order of magnitude as
PiJ gas viscosity, (Pa.s)
the ones reported in technical literature. Finally, trends of some gas density, (kg/m3)
important parameters of the physical phenomenon, such as PiJ
PP particle density, (kg/m3)
moisture concentration of gas phase on the particle surface and density of wet solid particles, (kg/m3)
mass Biot number, were discussed in terms of the operating sphericity of the particles
conditions.
Dimensionless Groups
Nomenclature Ar Archimedes number, d pg(pp-p )g/p
9
A cross section area of the bed, (m2) Bi heat transfer Biot numger, Rhd3ip
C average solid moisture a t a given moment, Bi, mass Biot number, RkdD,,
(kg water/kg dry solid)
Knp Knudsen number of the particle, h/dp
cmt solid moisture at the end of constant drying rate period, Nu Nusselt number, hJ,,/hg
(kg water/kg dry solid) Pr Prandtl number, c#dh
average solid moisture at equilibrium, 4
'es Remr Reynolds number in minimum fluidization conditions,
(kg water/kg dry solid) urn1 PgdpJPg
co initial solid moisture, (kg water/kg dry solid) ReP particle Reynolds number, upgd,,/pg
cr solid moisture a t a given moment and radius, sc Schmidt number, p d p D
(kg water/kg dry solid) Sh Sherwood number, kAy!Dg
c free solid moisture at a given moment and radius,
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~~ ~
Manuscript received September 18, 2001 ; revised manuscript
received April 2, 2002; accepted for publication April 25, 2002.
385