Numerical and experimental analysis of the heat and mass transfer during okara drying

The aim of this study is to model the heat and mass transfer during the okara drying. Okara, containing 77% of moisture content (w.b.), was extruded in the shape of spherical pellets and then dried in a fixed bed dryer until 3% of moisture content (w.b.). During the process, the okara moisture and temperature profiles were experimentally obtained. The governing equations of heat and mass transfer (Fourier and Fick, respectively) were solved by the Implicit Finite Difference Method. The thermophysical properties of okara which were necessary in the numerical model were obtained from correlations that require the okara centesimal composition and some variables measured during the process. The numerical results were compared to the experimental ones, presenting a reasonable adjustment. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.