CFD Simulation and Optimization of Factors Affecting the Performance of a Fluidized Bed Dryer

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a computational technology that enables researchers to study the dynamics of things that flow. By using CFD, it is possible to build a computational model that represents a system under study. It not only predicts fluid flow behavior, but also the transfer of heat, mass, phase change, chemical reaction, mechanical movement, and stress or deformation of related solid. In this study, hydrodynamics behavior of a laboratorial fluidized bed dryer containing carrot cubes as well as heat transfer in the dryer was simulated using CFD. In addition, to understand the energy utilization the system was optimized using the Taguchi technique. Simulations were planned based on L9 orthogonal array of Taguchi, and they were conducted at inlet air temperatures 50, 60 and 70 ºC, bed depths 3, 6 and 9 cm and carrot cube dimensions 4, 7 and 10 mm. Results show that cube size and bed depth have the maximum and minimum contribution on the energy utilization ratio, respectively. According to the results inlet air temperature 70°C, cube size 4mm and bed depth 9cm were obtained as optimum conditions. Finally, a verification test was performed to confirm the validity of the used statistical method.