Development of a new Biot number and lag factor correlation for drying applications

The present paper deals with the development of a new Biot number-lag factor (Bi-G) correlation for drying applications. Development of this correlation is based on the experimental data acquired from various sources in the literature. Using the developed correlation, moisture transfer parameters such as moisture diffusivity and moisture transfer coefficient for three regular shaped objects, e.g. slab, cylinder and sphere are calculated and compared with the experimental moisture content variations. The results showed an appreciably high agreement between the measured and predicted moisture content values from the correlation. Hence, the present correlation is considered as a useful tool for practical drying applications and a good contribution to the state-of-art of drying. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.