Mathematical modeling of processes of heat and mass transfer during drying of wood biomass

Abstract

For the first time, a mathematical model for the drying of woody biomass during conductive heating with localization of the evaporation front has been formulated. The processes of moisture removal during the filtration of steam through the porous structure of the material at an ambient temperature of Te=373 K were considered. Humidity was varied (in the range from 6% to 40%) and dimensions of wood blanks (Rd=0.0035 - 0.035 m). Based on the results of numerical simulation, the conditions and characteristics (evaporation rate Wisp, drying time [tau] dry) of the process of moisture removal from wood biomass are determined. The mathematical model allows to calculate the drying time, as well as the mass evaporation rate for different sizes of wood sample, humidity and temperature conditions.