(409a) Modeling and Simulation of Drying of Paper and Board

Paper and board continue to be an important renewable bioproducts manufacturing sector in the US and the world. Conventional drying processes used in majority of the paper and board are based in conduction heat transfer from steam heated dryer cans and convective heat and mass transfer from air flowing over the surface of the paper in the pockets as it is being dried. The drying process, as in many process industries, is one of the major consumers of energy. Approaches to reducing energy consumption and possible decarbonization are of considerable interest. Fundamental understanding of the transport processes involved in conventional drying processes in porous materials like paper and board can help us develop ways to reduce energy consumption and decarbonization of the drying process. Here we present preliminary results from the modeling and simulation of the heat and mass transfer and associated liquid, gas and energy fluxes during the drying process. This will help in better understanding of the conventional processes and the development of novel drying processes.