Fenômenos de difusão transiente em sólidos esferoidais oblatos. Estudo de caso: secagem de lentilhas.

Abstract

A numerical solution of the diffusion equation that describes the heat and mass transfer inside oblate spheroidal solids including shrinkage, considering convective boundary condition and constant or variables properties is presented. The solution is obtained by using the finite volumes method to discretize the diffusion equation. Several results of the moisture content and temperature inside of the spheroid are presented and analyzed. Simulated results were adjusted to the experimental data of drying of lentils and values for the transport properties that characterize the drying process were found. Analysis of the effects of the body shape, shrinkage and multipasses drying (tempering), on the moisture diffusion phenomenon weredone. The obtained results are consistents and the mathematical model presented can be used to solve diffusion in solids with geometry that varies from a circular disk to a sphere, including the oblate spheroidal solids.