Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural Products
The dehydration process modifies the physical and chemical characteristics of certain crops, thereby increasing their shelf life and consequently reducing the organic waste generated. This process is contingent upon maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels to prevent deterioration of the...
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2024-09-01
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| author | Said Arturo Rodríguez-Romero Manuel Toledano-Ayala Gonzalo Macías-Bobadilla Edgar Alejandro Rivas-Araiza Priscila Sarai Flores-Aguilar Genaro Martín Soto-Zarazúa |
| author_facet | Said Arturo Rodríguez-Romero Manuel Toledano-Ayala Gonzalo Macías-Bobadilla Edgar Alejandro Rivas-Araiza Priscila Sarai Flores-Aguilar Genaro Martín Soto-Zarazúa |
| author_sort | Said Arturo Rodríguez-Romero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The dehydration process modifies the physical and chemical characteristics of certain crops, thereby increasing their shelf life and consequently reducing the organic waste generated. This process is contingent upon maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels to prevent deterioration of the product. As indirect dehydrators have a high energy demand, new designs are required that facilitate the uniform distribution of air with a high-volume capacity of 100 kg per day. In the present study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques were employed to assess the drying performance of two dehydrator models. The simulations were executed in Solidworks 2020 and Flow Simulation, and they examined temperature distribution and velocity within the interior of the dehydrators. In Model 1, an inlet volume flow of 0.08 m<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> and a heat source of 3.5 kW are considered, within a volume of 2.11 m<sup>3</sup>. In Model 2, an inlet volume flow of 0.03 m<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> and two heat source of 2.5 kW are considered, within a volume of 2.02 m<sup>3</sup>. Model 1 was unable to achieve uniform air distribution within the drying chamber. In contrast, Model 2 demonstrated uniform velocity and temperature across the majority of the drying chamber, making it a superior option. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-176cf515c4be4e5bbbabdc57dc8d1180 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-176cf515c4be4e5bbbabdc57dc8d11802025-08-20T01:55:58ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-09-011418847210.3390/app14188472Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural ProductsSaid Arturo Rodríguez-Romero0Manuel Toledano-Ayala1Gonzalo Macías-Bobadilla2Edgar Alejandro Rivas-Araiza3Priscila Sarai Flores-Aguilar4Genaro Martín Soto-Zarazúa5Facultad de Ingenieria Campus Amazcala, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, El Marques 76265, MexicoFacultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas, Queretaro 76010, MexicoFacultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas, Queretaro 76010, MexicoFacultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas, Queretaro 76010, MexicoFacultad de Ingenieria Campus Amazcala, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, El Marques 76265, MexicoFacultad de Ingenieria Campus Amazcala, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, El Marques 76265, MexicoThe dehydration process modifies the physical and chemical characteristics of certain crops, thereby increasing their shelf life and consequently reducing the organic waste generated. This process is contingent upon maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels to prevent deterioration of the product. As indirect dehydrators have a high energy demand, new designs are required that facilitate the uniform distribution of air with a high-volume capacity of 100 kg per day. In the present study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques were employed to assess the drying performance of two dehydrator models. The simulations were executed in Solidworks 2020 and Flow Simulation, and they examined temperature distribution and velocity within the interior of the dehydrators. In Model 1, an inlet volume flow of 0.08 m<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> and a heat source of 3.5 kW are considered, within a volume of 2.11 m<sup>3</sup>. In Model 2, an inlet volume flow of 0.03 m<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> and two heat source of 2.5 kW are considered, within a volume of 2.02 m<sup>3</sup>. Model 1 was unable to achieve uniform air distribution within the drying chamber. In contrast, Model 2 demonstrated uniform velocity and temperature across the majority of the drying chamber, making it a superior option.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/18/8472dehydratordirect dryermechanical designcomputational fluid dynamicsSolidworkssimulation |
| spellingShingle | Said Arturo Rodríguez-Romero Manuel Toledano-Ayala Gonzalo Macías-Bobadilla Edgar Alejandro Rivas-Araiza Priscila Sarai Flores-Aguilar Genaro Martín Soto-Zarazúa Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural Products Applied Sciences dehydrator direct dryer mechanical design computational fluid dynamics Solidworks simulation |
| title | Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural Products |
| title_full | Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural Products |
| title_fullStr | Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural Products |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural Products |
| title_short | Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Two Designs of Direct Dehydrators for Agricultural Products |
| title_sort | thermal computational fluid dynamics simulation of two designs of direct dehydrators for agricultural products |
| topic | dehydrator direct dryer mechanical design computational fluid dynamics Solidworks simulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/18/8472 |
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