ON THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS ON DRYING OF PORE NETWORKS

Abstract: The influence of imposed temperature gradients on the structure of the front during drying has been studied in non-isothermal drying experiments on pore network models. In experiments, a smooth (stabilized) drying front could be established for temperature gradients with hot open network side. Contrarily, a ramified (destabilized) drying front was obtained for the reverse temperature field. For this latter case, condensation of significant amounts of vapour in empty network pores could be observed, with growth and merging of small liquid clusters. The experimental phase distributions are compared to simulation results of a non-isothermal pore network model