Soluções computacionais analítico-numéricas aplicadas à simulação de secagem de produtos biológicos.

Abstract

The objective of this work is the development of a computational program for the simulation of the drying process of biological products. It offers, in a single operating module, the simulation models already Consolidated, associated with a database specifically modeled, which provide both simulation and managing information from drying tests. Based on the equations to determine hygroscopic equilibrium, thin layer, conversion ratio, specific heat and latent heat of vaporization of water of the product, a database was modeled that allows users (technical staff, researchers, students, teachers) to study, analyze or test any biological product. The following models are available: Hukill applied to fixed-bed dryers; Thompson applied to fixed-bed, crossflow and concurrent-flow dryers; Michigan, applied to fixed-bed and crossflow dryers with numerical solution by finite volume methods. In the application, ali mathematical formulation and coefficients are externally arranged, in such a way that modifications, edits or recompilations are not necessary. In the Michigan drying simulation model, the number of nodal points, the maximum number of iterations and/or the maximum time can be varied. The methodology used allows joining user(s), product(s), model used, the equations and their coefficients, the drying conditions, the experimental results obtained and the analysis of the drying results. Reusing data is an important factor, since the full range of information is stored, eliminating the use of repetitive actions that maximize errors.