The design and performance of continuous well-mixed fluidized bed dryers -An analytical approach

In a previous study, a unified approach to the calculation of the size and energy consumption of well-mixed fluidized bed dryers was developed. A comp uter code was written and a parametric study undertaken to determine the ef fects of the principal operating variables. The results were shown to depen d on the form of the drying kinetics. The present paper describes the formu lation of an analytical model of a well-mixed fluidized bed dryer, which ap plies for materials that exhibit linear falling-rate drying. These material s are typified by small hygroscopic particles, which are frequently dried i n such equipment. Equations are presented that enable the drying time, spec ific energy consumption, heater duty and bed area to be calculated. The pre dictions of these equations agreed well with previously published experimen tal findings and with the results of computer simulations for a typical sol id (ion exchange resin) exhibiting the required drying characteristics.