Comparative Study of Mathematical Models of Corn Drying

Abstract

The comparison among the results obtained from two corn drying mathematical models: non-equilibrium model and near-equilibrium model and the one obtained from the experiments was studied. The experiments comprised three strategies: 1) Low air flow rate, high temperature, LFHT (5.5-26.0 m³/min-m³ of corn, 60-90^oC) 2) Low air flow rate, low temperature, LFLT (5.5-26.0 m³/min-m³ of corn, 45-55^oC) 3) High air flow rate, Low temperature, HFLT (30.0-45.0 m³/min-m³ of corn, 45-55^oC). Results are described. The simulated moisture contents obtained from the non-equilibrium model were close to those of experiments in case of LFLT but they were not agreeable very well in cases of LFHT and HFLT. The simulated moisture contents obtained from the near-equilibrium model were a little bit lower than those obtained from the non-equilibrium model in cases of LFHT and LFLT and were nearly the same in case of HFLT. The temperatures calculated from both models were nearly the same but were higher than those of experiments for all drying strategies. The near equilibrium model was more interest to use than the non-equilibrium model because of small difference of results and much less computer time spending about 5 times.