P. Sundaram ¹, P. Sudhakar ¹, R. Yogeshwaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Chennai - 603203, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Objective: This paper presents a comparative study on the mathematical modeling of the drying characteristics of wheat grains and to estimate the suitable mathematical model of the drying behavior of the wheat at different operating parameters. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The drying experiments were performed in cylindrical fluidized bed dryer. Drying experiments were carried out with different operating parameters such as inlet air temperature (55, 60 and 65°C), air velocity (2.2, 2.4 and 2.6 m/sec) and initial moisture content of wheat (27.5, 30 and 32.5%) of total solid weight. Findings: The result of moisture content observed for various drying air temperature, velocity, and initial moisture content converted to the moisture ratio countenance with drying time at a corresponding time during their drying process. Thirteen mathematical models are compared based on their correlation coefficients, ischolar_mainmean square error, mean bias error and reduced -square to estimate the drying curves with the help of the experimental data. Among different model considered, the logarithmic model presented a better agreement with the data attained from the experiments. Application/ Improvements: It is used for agricultural and pharmaceutical drying process.

Keywords

Drying, Fluidized Bed Dryer, Moisture Ratio, Mathematical Model, Wheat.

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P. Sundaram ¹, R. Senthil ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Chennai - 603203, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Objectives: The effect of selective coatings on the solar absorber of a Parabolic Dish Collector (PDC) is presented in this work. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Outdoor experiments performed on sunny days at a 16 square meter. PDC with selective absorber of 0.4 m diameter. The Mild Steel (MS) absorber plates coated with nickel and chromium for their low emissivity and high absorptivity using the electroplating process with thicknesses of 30 μm. Findings: Instantaneous efficiency, radiative and convective heat losses evaluated for the absorber. The efficiency of collector system is highest when the mild steel absorber plate coated with nickel. Application/Improvements: The solar selective coatings are more beneficial in the energy transfer and economical to the consumers. The consistent higher absorption rate at the outdoor climate has to attain with a long life coating.

Keywords

Parabolic Dish Collector, Selective Coating, Solar Absorber,Solar Concentrator.

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