Simulation of Seamless Capsule Drying Process Using a Coupled CFD and DEM Methods

To ensure proper preservation, seamless capsules must be completely dried, which is achieved through a process in the drum. However, it is difficult to observe the changes in the capsules during the drying process in real-time. To address this, FLUENT and DEM coupled calculations are utilized to simulate the heat and mass transfer of the capsules during drying. The results demonstrate that the coupled model accurately predicts the drying time of the capsules under certain conditions, capturing the movement and interaction of particles and flow field inside the drum. During the drying process, air is unable to effectively enter the drum, resulting in the ineffective formation of convection in the drying environment and reduced drying efficiency. Based on the simulation results, subsequent optimization of the movement of the capsules in the drum, design of the air inlet, and improvement of convective mass transfer efficiency can be achieved, leading to an optimized drying process through adjustments to the drying conditions.