Secagem de blocos cerâmicos industriais: modelagem, simulação e experimentação.

Abstract

The objective of this work is to study, theoretically and experimentally, the drying of ceramic material on an industrial scale, with particular reference to the industrial compensator. Chemical, mineralogical, granulometric, thermal and gravimetric characterization of clay and drying of ceramic materials at different temperatures (50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100ºC) were carried out. Empirical models of drying, heating and volumetric variation were proposed and adjusted to the experimental data. A statistical analysis of nonlinear regression was performed, verifying the consistency of the models to represent the experimental results. The numerical solution of the governing equations is performed using the finite volume method. A mathematical code was developed in Mathematica® language to obtain the numerical data. Results of the chemical composition, granulometry, thermal and gravimetric of clay are presented and analyzed, the kinetics of mass loss and heating of the ceramic pieces are analyzed at the pre-established temperatures. All proposed models have good agreement with the experimental data. It has been found that the moisture loss process occurs at a lower speed than the heating of the ceramic material, that drying at low temperature favors the reduction of problems in the material and improvement in the final quality.