Heat and mass transfer of single droplet/wet particle drying

A theoretical model, which considers the fully unsteady character of both heat and mass transfer during the drying of single droplet/wet particle, is presented. The model enables prediction of pressure and fraction distributions of air-vapour mixture within the capillary pores of the wet particle crust. The simulations of the drying process of a single silica droplet under different conditions show a permanent rising of pressure within the capillary pores, but the corresponding vapour fraction remains less than unity. The comparison between the drying histories of the silica droplet, predicted by the present model with the data, calculated by the model which assumes a quasi-steady-state mass transfer and linear pressure profile within the capillary pores, shows inconsiderable differences between the droplet/wet particle temperature and mass time-changes. At the same time, the present model predicts pressure build-up and temperature rising within the particle wet core. However, in the studied cases the temperature of the wet core temperature does not exceed the liquid saturation temperature and therefore no boiling of liquid within the particle wet core is observed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.