EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION, SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF A COMMERCIAL HEATED-AIR BATCH HAY DRIER .2. COMPUTER-SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OFHAY DRIER PERFORMANCE

The experimental data obtained from the tests conducted on a newly dev eloped heated-air batch hay drier described in Part 1 of this paper we re used to validate a computer simulation programme for the drier. The computer simulated and measured temperature data at various locations for the drier agreed reasonably well. The simulation programme was su bsequently used to optimize the drying system for minimum total drying costs within set bounds of drying time and overdrying for various ini tial moisture contents of hay, ah-flow rate, drying air temperature, h ay stack height and batch size. The simulated results are presented as an aid in the management and operation of the drier and as a guide in the design of similar new batch hay driers. (C) 1996 Silsoe Research Institute