Development of a Mathematical Model for Heat and Mass Transfer Inside a Granular Medium

摘要

The aim of the present work is to analise the heat and mass transfer which occurs in a granular medium during the grains drying process. In the literature we have found several models that try to describe this process. Most of these models are empiric or semi-empiric and valid, therefore, for a quite limited range of the involved parameters. Therefore, we present a mathematical model based on the Navier-Stokes equations for the grains in the form of small spheres inside a chamber. We investigate the mean non dimensional parameters, which mean the Reynolds, the Schmidt, the Prandtl and the Eckert numbers. Numerical tests, using the Gauss-Seidel central finite difference scheme, are carried out for non dimensional parameters in the range Re = 200-2000, Sc = 0.7-2, Pr = 0.7-2, Ec = 10 ?5-5×10 ?5. These results contribute to obtain a better understanding of the parameters influence during the drying process of a granular medium.