A Computational Tool for Design and Operation of Coolers/Dryers for Feed Pellets

Cooling and drying of feed pellets are the most important operations in the feed manufacturing industry. These operations are carried out simultaneously, in a single machine, by passing ambient air through a moving bed of pellets. However, simultaneous control of both these processes is very difficult. Overdrying of pellets is a common problem that costs several million dollars to feed processing industries due to loss in the weight of the finished product. Avoiding of overdrying can cause insufficient cooling that can lead to spoilage and spontaneous heating of pellets in the storage. This research aims to develop a computer program for the numerical simulation of various types of coolers/dryers used in the feed processing industry. This computational tool can be used for developing various control strategies for these coolers. During Phase I of this research, the ability of such a computer code for process optimization and design improvments of cooler performance will be demonstrated. During Phase II, the numerical model will be validated under actual field conditions and the capabilities of Phase I computer code will be enhanced.