It is the advantage of fluidized drying that the heat and mass transfer rate between
solid and gas phase are relatively higher than other methods. The objectives of this research
were to find fluidized driying curve of chili slabs, effective diffusivity coefficient (De
), mass
transfer coefficient of water (k
y
) and mathematical model of fluidized drying of chili slabs. It was
also to find any influential factors of De
and ky
through dimensionless number analysis. The
experiment was performed by flowing the hot air through chili slabs in the fluidized glass column,
which was equipped with blower, thermometer and flowmeter. The rate of drying air was varied
in order to obtain its effects. The results showed that the drying curve consisted of two sections,
constant and falling rate. The increase of drying air rate from 942.14 to 1087.08 cm
3
/s had no
effect significantly on drying rate. Comparing the mathematical model with the data indicated
that it was fitting each other.
Keywords : fluidized drying, chili slabs, fluidized colum
