MODELING AND DESIGN OF CONVEYOR BELT DRYERS

A mathematical model suitable for the design of conveyor belt dryers w as developed. The objective of design was the evaluation of optimum fl ow-sheet structure, construction characteristics, and operational cond itions. The methodology followed was based on constructing a superstru cture which involves a large number of minor structures, and optimizin g it by means of non-linear mathematical programming techniques. The o ptimization problem can be stated in an equivalent way so that the com putational effort involved in its solution is greatly reduced. This de composition strategy transforms the original problem into an optimizat ion problem of a major and a minor stage.