Mathematical Modeling and Design of Parboiled Paddy-Impinging Stream Dryer Using the CFD-DEM Model

Impinging stream dryers (ISDs) are effective for removing moisture from particulate materials because of the complex multiphase transport of air particles in ISDs. Nowadays, computational techniques are powerful to simulate multiphase flows, including dilute and dense-phase gas-solid flows and hence, the use of a reliable computational model to simulate the phenomena and design a dryer has recently received more attention. In this study, computational fluid dynamics, combined with the discrete element method (CFD-DEM) and falling drying rate model, were used to predict the multiphase transport phenomena of parboiled paddy in a coaxial ISD. The design of an impinging stream pattern for improving residence time in a drying chamber of ISD was also investigated. The results showed that the CFD-DEM, in combination with the falling drying model, could be well-utilized to predict the particle motion behavior and lead to more physically realistic results. The predicted change of moisture content in parboiled paddy was in good agreement with the experimental data for 17 cycles of drying. Although the prediction of mean residence time was lower than the experimental data, the predicted mean residence time was a similar trend to the experimental data. For ISD design, the simulation revealed that the use of two stages of impinging stream region (two streams collide at the top of the drying chamber at the first stage and then the gas particles flow on the incline floor to collide with the other stream at second stage) in a drying chamber could increase the residence time approximately 75% and reduce drying cycle from 17 to 10 cycles when it was considered at the same final moisture content.