NON-DIMENSIONAL NUMBERS ANALYSIS OF A BIOMASS OPERATED GRAIN DRYER COUPLED WITH THERMAL STORAGE

Abstract

In this study, non-dimensional number analysis has been performed for the rectangular chamber (brick wall) outer surface in a natural convection grain dryer. For the study, biomass is burnt in the conical furnace for three hours at a rate of 1.6 kg/h. The study has been performed for two cases; (i) without sensible heat storage medium (pebbles), and (ii) with sensible heat storage medium in the rectangular chamber. In the present study, Grashof number ( ), Rayleigh number ( ), and Nusselt number ( ) have been evaluated. The value of Grashof number and Rayleigh number was obtained in the range of 2.5908?9.5609 and 1.908?7.8409 for the case-I and 1.4809?57909 and 1.0809?4.2309 for case-II, respectively. The value of Nusselt numbers was obtained in the range of 85.6?284.23 and 152.99?240.8 for the cases-(I&II), respectively