MODELING THE INFRARED RADIATIVE HEATING OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS

Simultaneous heat and mass transfer equations were developed to simula te the infrared radiative heating of agricultural crops. The equations assume that moisture diffuses to the outer boundaries of the material in liquid form and evaporation occurs at the surface of the kernel. E nergy for moisture evaporation is supplied by the infrared radiant ene rgy. The equations were validated with experimental data on surface te mperature and average moisture content of barley kernels. Average devi ations of predicted surface kernel temperature and average kernel mois ture from experimental data were 3.9 degrees C and 0.6% (w.b.), respec tively. These comparisons were performed using kernels having initial moisture contents of 12.2%, 17.0% and 23.17%. Sensitivity analysis of process parameters showed that infrared burner temperature, distance o f infrared burner from the grain bed, grain initial moisture content a nd grain heating time significantly affected kernel temperature. Burne r temperature and burner height had no significant effect on grain fin al moisture content.