Drying characteristics of cotton lint in a recirculating fixed-bed dryer with a condenser

Abstract

The effects of gas velocity (0.094-0.189 m/s), gas temperature (60- 120 degrees C), cooling water flow rate (4.8 x 10(-3)- 9.0 x 10(-3) kg/s), and the cooling method (direct or indirect) on the drying characteristics (drying rate and specific energy consumption) of cotton lint in a 0.15-m-inner diameter (ID) x 0.9-m-high recirculating fixed-bed dryer have been determined. The drying rate increases, but the amount of specific energy consumption decreases, as the air temperature increases. With the direct cooling method, the drying rate increases as the cooling water flow rate increases. Further research is required to investigate the drying rate and the specific energy consumption as a function of the direct and indirect cooling methods.