A learning process simulator for fluidized bed dryers: Application to bentonite drying

A fluid bed dryer simulator was developed under Excel 5 with Visual Basic for Applications environment. The simulator is based on a mathematical model describing heat and mass transfer in the dryer. The total model incorporates empirical models for the Drying Constant and the Residence Time. These empirical models are crucial in the total model efficiency. Thus a procedure for updating the parameters of the empirical models is provided. This procedure constitutes the ''learning'' property of the simulator. Two databases are supplied. The first contains laboratory drying data and it is used for tuning the Drying Constant empirical model. The second contains industrial drying data from the real operation of the dryer, and it is used for tuning the Residence Time empirical model. The experience from the industrial application of the simulator proved that the simulator is a powerful tool for flexible operation of an industrial dryer. This paper is presents the total mathematical model of the dryer, the learning concept, and the databases, including useful information concerning the drying kinetics of bentonite. A simulator outline is presented and typical capabilities and uses are briefly described. A case study for flexible operation of an industrial dryer is discussed.