Iranian Institute of Research and Development in Chemical Industries (IRDCI)-ACECR Nashrieh Shimi va Mohandesi Shimi Iran 1022-7768 44 1 2025 04 21 CFD Simulation and Investigation of the Effect of Baffle Angle in the Drying Process of Gypsum Boards CFD Simulation and Investigation of the Effect of Baffle Angle in the Drying Process of Gypsum Boards 123 133 721992 FA Aghil Ghanbari Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical, Oil and Gas Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, IR. IRAN Ebrahim Najafi Kani Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical, Oil and Gas Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, IR. IRAN Amir Heidari Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical, Oil and Gas Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, IR. IRAN 0000-0003-1652-0556 Journal Article 2021 02 05 For various reasons, including the improper structure of tunnel dryers, uniform drying does not occur in the panels, and there is a need to correct the flow structure in these dryers. Baffles are among the equipment that helps to improve the drying process by adding to the dryer structure. The purpose of this study is to attempt to identify a conceptual design to improve airflow for more uniform drying of gypsum panels. The effect of baffle angle and change in dryer geometry on pressure reduction, flow distribution and temperature distribution, and the moisture content of the body on the surface of the panels in the hot air chamber of the dryer was investigated using computational fluid dynamics. In this study, rectangular baffles with different angles were used to help the flow uniformity. The realizable k-ε model simulated turbulent flow with low Reynolds number modeling (LRNM) and wall function for the boundary layer region. A higher angle (90 degrees) increases the speed, mixing and airflow on the panel plates compared to the case with a baffle with a lower angle (30 degrees). The higher angle of the baffle also increased the amount of pressure (179%), the average velocity (150%), and the kinetic energy of the turbulence (11.5%) compared to the baffle mode with a lower flow angle. The lower angle baffle in this design also caused the amount of moisture and relative humidity on the surface (for the 90 degrees angle baffle =3.7952% and for the 30 degrees angle baffle =3.7828%). Still, the uniformity created in the humidity of this design was lower than the 90-degree angle. This study leads to the creation of knowledge about the effect of the baffle on various airflow parameters to improve the uniform moisture content of the product, which can lead to better optimization of drywall designs in future designs. For various reasons, including the improper structure of tunnel dryers, uniform drying does not occur in the panels, and there is a need to correct the flow structure in these dryers. Baffles are among the equipment that helps to improve the drying process by adding to the dryer structure. The purpose of this study is to attempt to identify a conceptual design to improve airflow for more uniform drying of gypsum panels. The effect of baffle angle and change in dryer geometry on pressure reduction, flow distribution and temperature distribution, and the moisture content of the body on the surface of the panels in the hot air chamber of the dryer was investigated using computational fluid dynamics. In this study, rectangular baffles with different angles were used to help the flow uniformity. The realizable k-ε model simulated turbulent flow with low Reynolds number modeling (LRNM) and wall function for the boundary layer region. A higher angle (90 degrees) increases the speed, mixing and airflow on the panel plates compared to the case with a baffle with a lower angle (30 degrees). The higher angle of the baffle also increased the amount of pressure (179%), the average velocity (150%), and the kinetic energy of the turbulence (11.5%) compared to the baffle mode with a lower flow angle. The lower angle baffle in this design also caused the amount of moisture and relative humidity on the surface (for the 90 degrees angle baffle =3.7952% and for the 30 degrees angle baffle =3.7828%). Still, the uniformity created in the humidity of this design was lower than the 90-degree angle. This study leads to the creation of knowledge about the effect of the baffle on various airflow parameters to improve the uniform moisture content of the product, which can lead to better optimization of drywall designs in future designs. https://www.nsmsi.ir/article_721992_93913510874fbce15e792fb3f400c461.pdf