TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of various layouts of internal baffles on air distribution in heat pump cabinet dryers
AU - Gai, Yilin
AU - Zhang, Zhongbin
AU - Wang, Xiaolin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Cabinet dryers are commonly employed in the food industry due to their simplistic design and low operational maintenance. Nevertheless, uneven internal airflow remains a critical issue affecting efficiency. This study developed nine models of heat pump cabinet dryers, based on traditional designs, and conducted a numerical investigation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling. Modifications were made to the positions of the air inlet, outlet, and the baffle angle to determine the configuration that achieves the most uniform drying airflow, aiming to improve overall dryer performance. Key factors such as airflow velocity, temperature, humidity, and heat and mass transfer were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the optimized configuration, featuring a top inlet, middle outlet, and 4° baffle angle, improved flow and temperature uniformity by 52.70 % and 85.32 %, respectively, compared to the original design. The effectiveness of this configuration was validated through experimental trials involving the loading and unloading of figs. Physical property assessments indicated satisfactory drying uniformity, while sensory evaluations showed the final product was crisp, easy to chew, and exhibited enhanced sweetness. Overall, this study highlights the effectiveness of structural modifications in improving airflow and temperature uniformity, thereby enhancing the overall drying performance.
AB - Cabinet dryers are commonly employed in the food industry due to their simplistic design and low operational maintenance. Nevertheless, uneven internal airflow remains a critical issue affecting efficiency. This study developed nine models of heat pump cabinet dryers, based on traditional designs, and conducted a numerical investigation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling. Modifications were made to the positions of the air inlet, outlet, and the baffle angle to determine the configuration that achieves the most uniform drying airflow, aiming to improve overall dryer performance. Key factors such as airflow velocity, temperature, humidity, and heat and mass transfer were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the optimized configuration, featuring a top inlet, middle outlet, and 4° baffle angle, improved flow and temperature uniformity by 52.70 % and 85.32 %, respectively, compared to the original design. The effectiveness of this configuration was validated through experimental trials involving the loading and unloading of figs. Physical property assessments indicated satisfactory drying uniformity, while sensory evaluations showed the final product was crisp, easy to chew, and exhibited enhanced sweetness. Overall, this study highlights the effectiveness of structural modifications in improving airflow and temperature uniformity, thereby enhancing the overall drying performance.
KW - Airflow management
KW - Baffle configuration
KW - Computational fluid dynamics
KW - Heat pump cabinet dryers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206840254&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2024.108209
DO - 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2024.108209
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85206840254
SN - 0735-1933
VL - 159
JO - International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer
JF - International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer
M1 - 108209
ER -