Numerical Simulation of Dryer Unit Packed Bed Dryer with Node Division Using Silica Gel in Air Dehumidification Scheme

The drying process is a process that has wide application. One area that is quite intensive in utilizing this process is in the food industry. Before carrying out the drying experiment, simulation of the drying packed model is one of the techniques to determine the optimum system in the material drying process. This study simulated the air dehumidification process in the adsorption phase using a desiccant in the form of silica gel on a packed bed dryer with six nodes. Using a numerical approach by performing calculations using various input parameters will produce the value of the silica gel moisture content (X). The temperature of the desiccant (Ts) at certain time intervals, the humidity of the air coming out (Yo) of each node, and the temperature of entering (Ta, i) each node. The mass flow rate and temperature of the air entering the device were varied to assess their effect on the rate of condensation. Several assumptions were applied to perform calculations so that the level of validity of the simulation could not be measured accurately. The results of the simulation of the condensation rate show a directly proportional relationship between the temperature of the desiccant and the inlet temperature of each node to the node distance at certain variations in the incoming air mass flow rate, while the decrease in water content and humidity of the outgoing air to the node distance. The ideal air intake temperature is 28°C with a moisture content (X) of 3.7724x10-8 kg/kg, the humidity of the air coming out (Yo) 0.01546 kg/kg and a desiccant temperature (Ts) of 29.99°C, and temperature of entering (Ta, i) at the sixth node 29.18°C.