ANSI/ASAE S448.

1 JUL2001 (R2006)
Thin-Layer Drying of Agricultural Crops

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ANSI/ASAE S448.1 JUL2001 (R2006)
Approved July 2001; Reaffirmed March 2006 as an American National Standard
Thin-Layer Drying of Agricultural Crops
Developed by the ASAE Grain and Feed Processing and Storage
Committee; approved by the Food and Process Engineering Institute
Standards Committee; adopted by ASAE December 1993; reaffirmed
December 1998; revised editorially and reaffirmed December 1999;
revised July 2001; approved by ANSI July 2001; reaffirmed and
editorially revised February 2006; reaffirmation approved by ANSI March
2006; reaffirmation extended two years January 2011.
Keywords: Crops, Drying
1 Purpose and scope
1.1 The purpose of this Standard is to provide a unified procedure for
determining and presenting the drying characteristics of grains and
crops.
1.2 The drying data determined and presented according to this
Standard can be used in characterizing the drying rate of a product,
product drying computer simulation, performance testing of drying
equipment, and product quality evaluations.
1.3 This Standard applies specifically to grains and crops that are dried
by forced air convection in a thin layer.
2 Normative references
The following standard contains provisions that, through reference in this
text, constitutes provisions of this Standard. At the time of publication, the
editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to revision, and
parties to agreements based on this Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent edition of the
standard indicated below. Standards organizations maintain registers of
currently valid standards.
ASAE D245.5 JAN01, Moisture Relationships of Plant-Based Agricultural
Products
3 Definitions
3.1 thin-layer: A layer of material exposed fully to an airstream during
drying. The depth (thickness) of the layer should be uniform and should
not exceed three layers of particles.
3.2 instantaneous moisture content, M: Moisture content of a product
measured or calculated during drying.
3.3 initial moisture content, Mi : Moisture content of a product prior to
the start of drying, expressed on a decimal dry basis.
3.4 final moisture content, Mf : Moisture content of a product at the
completion of drying, expressed as decimal dry basis.
3.5 equilibrium moisture content, Me : Moisture content of a product in
equilibrium with mean dry bulb temperature and relative humidity of the
drying air, expressed as decimal dry basis. Equations given in ASAE
D245 should be used whenever possible.
4 General requirements
4.1 Start-up. Tests should be conducted after drying equipment has
reached steady-state conditions. Steady state is achieved when the
approaching airstream temperature variation about the set-point is less
than or equal to 1 C and approaching airstream relative humidity
variation about the set point is less than or equal to 3 percentage points.
4.2 Sample. The sample shall be clean and representative in particle
size. It shall be free from broken, cracked, weathered, and immature
ASABE STANDARDS 2011 ANSIASAE S448.1 JUL2001 R2006
particles and other materials that are not inherently part of the product.
The sample should preferably have its natural moisture content. In the
absence of a fresh sample, the moisture content of the sample may be
reconstituted either by wetting with water spray or by conditioning in a
humid environment. Reconstituted samples shall be conditioned at room
temperature in a sealed container for at least 24 h (Sokhansanj et al.,
1984). Water should not be added directly to the sample if this causes
physical or chemical changes that significantly affect drying rate of the
product. In such cases, reconstituting the sample moisture content by
placing it in a humid environment is preferred. A dry fresh sample should
be reconstituted only once. Frozen samples should be thawed and used
only once.
4.3 Drying. Particles in the thin layer should be exposed fully to the
airstream. The airstream approaching the sample should be as uniform
as possible in temperature and humidity at a given cross section parallel
to the thin layer so that the air contacts sample particles uniformly. Care
should be exercised to prevent displacement of particles in the thin-layer
holder during a test. This situation may arise in a vertical thin-layer in
which airstream flows horizontally through the product, or in a horizontal
thin-layer in which airstream flows upward through the product. The air
velocity approaching the product should be at least 0.3 m/s.
4.4 Measurements. Nearly continuous recording of the sample mass
loss during drying is required. The corresponding records of particle
temperature (surface or internal) are optional but preferred. The time
interval between recordings depends on the mean dry bulb air
temperature (Byler and Brook, 1984). Higher temperatures require
shorter time intervals between readings. A typical time interval between
mass measurement for drying with 60 C dry-bulb air temperature is as
follows: every 5 s during the first 5 min, every 1 min during the next hour,
and every 15 min thereafter. It is recommended to occasionally divert the
airflow away from the sample during mass measurement to record the
sample mass with no airflow. This no airflow mass should be
determined 3 to 4 times during a drying test. Other parameters such as
mean dry bulb air temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity should
be measured occasionally to assure consistent operation of the dryer.
4.5 Accuracy of measurements. Temperature sensors shall be
accurate to 1 C. Mass shall be measured with an accuracy of 0.2%
of sample mass so that the calculated moisture content is within 0.002
(decimal dry basis) of the products actual moisture content. Relative
humidity may be measured directly or computed from measurements of
dry bulb temperature and wet bulb (or dew point) temperature; it must be
accurate to within 3 percentage points. The air velocity measurement
must be accurate within 5%.
4.6 Duration of experiment. In most cases the experiment should
continue until the moisture ratio, defined by MR, equals 0.05 (see clause
6 Notation). Me should be determined experimentally or numerically from
equations as discussed in clause 3.5.
5 Reporting
5.1 Sample identification shall consist of:
type (preferably botanical name) and variety;
year of production/harvest;
location of harvest;
harvest moisture content;
storage conditions and history;
sample purity;
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 sample preparation (see clause 4.2);
size and shape characteristics of the particles.
5.2 Drying conditions used shall be specified. These conditions include:
sample initial and final moisture contents (decimal, dry basis);
drying duration (h, min or s);
approaching air velocity (ms1);
mean dry bulb temperature (C) and its variations;
mean relative humidity (%) and its variations.
All drying-condition data shall include mean and standard deviations
computed for the duration of the drying test.
5.3 Drying rate data reported shall consist of either of the following two
forms:
The numerical values of moisture content (decimal, dry basis)
versus time (h, min, or s);
The estimated values of k and n including standard errors of
estimates, in Pages Equation (equation 1):
MRexp kt n (1)
The units for parameters k and n shall be consistent with the unit of t (h,
min, or s) and shall include the standard deviation of each. The range of

Table 1 Constants k and n in the thin layer drying equation 1 for selected grains and crops

Product Constants t unit Range1 Source

Alfalfa k 1.76 10 -2 exp(0.123M i 4.4 10 -2 T min 40 T 250 Patil (1995)

(freshly chopped) 5.79 10-5 T 2 3.2410-3 M i T)
n 0.5 exp(7.05 10-3 M i 8.76 103
T1.91 10-5 T 2 )
Barley k 0.0462 exp(0.0154T) min 50 T 150 Bruce (1985)
n 0.492 3.84 10 5 (T123)2 0.215 M i 0.41
Canola k 0.1832 min T 70 M i 0.214 Sokhansanj et al. (1984)
n 0.572
Corn k exp(7.1735 1.2793 h 2.2 T 71.1, Misra and Brooker (1980)
ln(1.8T 32) .1378v) 3 rh 83
n 0.0811 ln(rh) 0.78 M i 0.18 M i 0.60
Grass k 0.34 10 3 exp(0.02028T) s T 200 OCallaghan et al. (1971)
(fresh ryegrass) n1
Lentils k 0.182626 0.0043T, h 23 T 80, Tang et al. (1989)
n 0.527 5 rh 70
Peanut pods2 k exp[ 0.780523 0.144026T h 27 T 35, Kulasiri et al. (1989)
(Virgina type) 0.358 10-2 T 2 2.13941(rh/100) 26 rh 47
0.71599M i 0.137131T(rh/100)] 0.59 M i 0.77
n 0.80
Rice, rough k 0.02958 0.4456(rh/100) h 32 T 51, Agrawal and Singh (1977)
0.01215T 19 rh 85
n 0.13365
1.93653(rh/100) 1.77431(rh/100)2
0.009468T
Sorghum3 t A ln MR B(ln MR) 2 h 26.7 T 115.5 Paulsen and Thompson (1973)
A 25.87 0.3354 (1.8T 32) 26.7 T 71
0.001075(1.8T 32)2
A 0.540.0017(1.8T 32) 71 T 115.5
B 30.35 exp[ 0.018(1.8T32)] 26.5 T 115.6
Soybeans k exp[11.752 7912.7/(1.8T 492)]n h M i 0.250 Overhults et al. (1973)
k exp[10.906 7357.0/(1.8T 492)]n M i 0.299
k exp[10.375 6779.3/(1.8T 492)]n M i 0.493
n 0.396420.002448T 37.8 T 104.4,
Sunflower (oilseed) k 5.66 10 4 T1.271, min 27 T 93, Li et al. (1987)
n 0.8281 0.004T 0.000091T M i 0.26 M i 0.33
Walnuts k exp[ 0.681 0.011(100M i ) 0.952 h 21 T 43.2, Anigbankpu et al. (1980)
ln(100M i ) 0.000152 (1.8T 32.2)2] 25 rh 76
n1
Wheat k 2000 exp[ 5094/(T 273)], s T 100 OCallaghan et al. (1971)
n1
1 Temperature (C); Mi (decimal d.b.); rh (%), v (ms1)
2 The exponent n is the average of 14 numerical values given in the original paper.
3 The constants for sorghum are not for equation 1 but are for the drying equation listed on column 2, with time as the dependent variable, as presented in Paulsen and
Thompson (1973).

2 ANSIASAE S448.1 JUL2001 R2006 ASABE STANDARDS 2011

equation 1 (ranges of temperature, relative humidity, and moisture 6 Notation
content) shall be clearly stated. See clause 4.6 for the duration of
6.1 The following notation is used in this Standard:
experiment. If drying is terminated prior to MR = 0.05, the ending
moisture content on which the model is based should be specified. A constant;
5.4 Reporting additional forms of drying equations such as those B constant;
involving diffusion theories is optional. The simple first order equation d.b. dry basis;
k constant;
M instantaneous moisture content, decimal dry basis;
MM e Mi initial moisture content, decimal dry basis;
MR exp kt (2)
M i M e Me equilibrium moisture content, decimal dry basis;
MR moisture ratio M M e /M i M;
n constant;
appears to be an inadequate representation of the drying behavior of
most crops especially in high temperature drying applications (dry bulb rh relative humidity, %;
air temperature higher than 40 C for grains). T temperature, C;
5.5 Previously determined values of k and n are reported in table 1 for t time, s, min, h;
grain products. The range of test conditions is also shown. For those v air velocity, m/s.
products for which equation 2 was found in the literature, it is assumed
n equals 1.

Annex A
(informative)
Bibliography
The following documents are cited as reference sources used in
development of this Standard:
Agrawal, Y. C. and R. D. Singh. 1977. Thin layer drying studies for short
grain rice. ASAE Paper No. 773531.
Anigbankpu, C. S., T. R. Rumsey, and J. F. Thompson. 1980. Thin layer
drying and equilibrium moisture content equations for Ashley walnuts.
ASAE Paper No. 806507.
Bruce, D. M. 1985. Exposed layer barley drying: three models fitted to
new data up to 150C. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research.
32(4): 337348.
Byler, R. K., and R. C. Brook. 1984. Thin layer model, temperature and
relative humidity variable. ASAE Paper No. 843525.
Kulasiri, D. G., D. H. Vaughn, J. S. Cundiff, and W. F. Wilcke. 1989. Thin
layer drying rates of Virginia type peanuts. ASAE paper No. 896600.
Li, Y., V. Morey, and M. Afinrud. 1987. Thin layer drying rates of oilseed
sunflower. Transactions of the ASAE. 30(4): 11721175, 1180.
Misra, M. K. and D. B. Brooker. 1980. Thin layer drying and rewetting
equations for shelled yellow corn. Transactions of the ASAE. 23(5):
12541260.
OCallaghan, J. R., D. J. Menzies, and P. H. Bailey. 1971. Digital
simulation of agricultural drier performance. Journal of Agricultural
Engineering Research. 16(3): 223244.
Overhults, D. G., I. J. Ross, G.M. White, and H. E. Hamilton. 1973.
Drying soybeans with heated air. Transactions of the ASAE. 16(1): 112
113.
Patil, R. T. 1995. Drying characteristics of alfalfa crops. Ph.D. Agricultural
and Bioresource Engineering., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon,
S7N5A9.
Paulsen, M. R. and T. L. Thompson. 1973. Drying analysis of grain
sorghum. Transactions of the ASAE 16(3): 537540.
Sokhansanj, S., D. Singh and J. D. Wasserman. 1984. Drying
characteristics of several grains subjected to repetitive wetting and drying
cycles. Transactions of the ASAE 27(3): 903906, 914.
Tang, J., S. Sokhansanj, and F.W. Sosulski. 1989. Thin-layer drying of
lentil. ASAE Paper No. 896540.

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