Comprehensive study of fluidization characteristics and variations of moisture content in fluidized bed drying of soybean

Abstract

In this exhaustive study, the investigation has been done on the strength of moisture content, air temperature and air entry speed on the drying kinetics and fluidization height during fluidized bed drying of soybean using electric heater as a heating medium. And it is obvious from the observing values, the height of the fluidized bed increased with the increment in inlet Vs and fluidization height decreased with lower inlet Vs. If the mass flow rate reduced, the corresponding height of the bed increased and vice versa for high mass flow rate. Fluidized bed drying was able to reduce drying time in comparison to the fixed bed and hence it could be used to reduce heterogeneity in the bed during drying. In drying kinetics, with the increase in drying parameters, rate constants and diffusivity have also increased.