DRYING OF CORN IN A FLUIDIZED FLOTATION B ED .2. MODELING OF THE DRYING KINETICS

From the results presented in the first part of this study, it was con cluded that internal moisture diffusion controls the drying process. T his paper develops a diffusive-conductive model for predicting not onl y the moisture content of kernels and the temperature at different ope rating conditions, but also the instantaneous relative air humidity an d air temperature. First, a law of variation of the diffusional coeffi cient vs. temperature and moisture content is identified. Very good ag reement is found between predicted and experimental results for T-g, X , Y and T-a at several air temperatures and initial moisture contents of maize. Moreover, the model is validated by other experiments conduc ted on flotation fluidized beds and classical fluidized beds.