PH—Postharvest Technology: Numerical Simulation Static-Bed Drying of Barley

The last decade has seen enormous progress in mathematical modelling and numerical simulation in areas related with fluid dynamics and heat and mass transfer. This is because of the increasingly widespread use of powerful, low-cost digital computers. Future efforts should be directed towards developing computer codes that can be implemented by users who may not be well versed in computational skills. Here a computer program has been developed, for simulating a non-equilibrium mathematical model for static-deep-bed drying of barley. The model consists of a set of four non-linear partial differential equations as a result of mass and energy balances and heat transfer equations, together with appropriate diffusion equation. The set of equations is solved by means of a finite-difference method, using a second-order iterative predictor–corrector process to solve the first two equations in the time domain, and a first-order iterative process for the second two, in the space domain. Published experimental results are used to validate the model. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental data relative to heated-air drying system, and the prediction accuracy is enhanced with respect to equilibrium models.