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In this paper, a solution method for the temperature distribution of rectangular test specimen with a high-speed heat air-flow passing through is proposed based on the heat transfer theory and numerical calculation, and the feasibility of temperature prediction method is validated. Firstly, the partial differential equations to describe the average temperature in the section of the hot air-flow and the specimen are established and the solving method using MATLAB solver is proposed. Then, based on heat transfer conduction equation and the average temperature, the temperature distribution at different point in each section is calculated. The comparison between numerical computation and experiment shows that two results are in good agreement, which verifies the correctness of the presented prediction method of the temperature distribution of the specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a preliminarily study on an efficient, inexpensive and energy saving solar batch dryer for drying sludge. A concept of a mixed mode solar dryer was developed and designed. Air heated by the solar flat heater was forced through drying chamber by electric fans. A 3-D physical model was used to observe and predict the operation of the solar batch dryer at different time under designed conditions. The thermal performance and air movement of drying chamber in the designed dryer unit were evaluated through ANSYS-FLUENT software. By determining the external conditions, localization and the material properties, the model can predict temperature and humidity distributions in the designed drying chamber and sludge material layers, air-flow field according to the radiation and convection, as well as water quantity evaporated from the sludge. A special attention was paid to implementation of physical boundary conditions on the sludge surface, which is between air and dried sludge. The developed solar barn dryer can heat air at average temperature between 47 °C and 57 °C, which is optimum for dehydration of the sludge. The designed drying chamber can generate an adequate fow of hot air to increase the drying rate by above 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]