Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.83, No.1, 127-131, 2005
Moisture profiles determination during convective drying using x-ray microtomography
The knowledge of internal moisture profiles which develop during drying is essential for model validation purposes, but they are difficult to determine experimentally. This paper shows that X-ray microtomography, together with image analysis, provides an accurate, non destructive and easy to use technique to determine moisture profiles. Results reported concern the drying of wastewater sludges whose management is becoming a real environmental challenge. An analysis of the development of moisture gradients at the sample external wall shows an influence of drying operating conditions. Finally, mass diffusion coefficients are estimated from the knowledge of both the moisture gradients and the drying flux.