Prediction models of kinetic drying of pigeon pea grains

The objective of this research was to study the kinetics of the thin-layer drying of pigeon peas subjected to different drying conditions, using different mathematical models. The effective diffusivity and activation energy were determined with the Fick model. For this purpose, 200g samples of pigeon peas with an initial moisture content of 25% (w.b.) were dried in an experimental fixed bed dryer, adjusted to operate at temperatures of 40, 50, 60 and 70 °C, and a drying air rate of 1.0m s^–1. For each temperature, drying was continued until the water content reached dynamic equilibrium. The average values for the temperature and relative humidity of the air were, respectively, 26 °C and 68%. For each temperature the effective diffusivity of the product was determined assuming the pigeon pea to be a sphere of equal volume. The effective diffusivity of the product in relation to the temperature was expressed by an equation similar to that proposed by Arrhenius. An analysis of the results allows for the conclusion that the equations of Cavalcanti Mata with six constants and of Midilli et al. satisfactorily represented the drying process under all conditions studied; and that using the Fick model the diffusivity of the pigeon peas ranged from 2.1x10^–10 to 6.8x10^–10 m².s^–1 at temperatures between 40 and 70 °C, respectively, with an activation energy equal to 34.51 kJ.mol^–1.

Drying curves; Spherical grains; Activation energy