Effects of Drying Air Parameters on Rice Drying Models

ABSTRACT Avertical airflow dryer and a continuous weighing system were used to determine the drying constant of steamed and unsteamed rough rice as a function of temperature, velocity and relative humidity of the drying air. The drying constant is an important parameter in thin layer drying theory which is needed to the drying process. Drying tests were conducted with unsteamed and steamed rough rice in order to evaluate the drying constants. Different effects of drying air conditions on the drying constant were observed for the steamed and unsteamed rough rice samples