During the constant rate drying period of high-moisture agricultural produce, the temperature of the drying grain surface is approximately equal to:
Options:
(A) The wet bulb temperature of the drying air
(B) The dry bulb temperature of the drying air
(C) The dew point temperature of the drying air
(D) The ambient air temperature
Answer Key:
A
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
During the constant rate period, the grain surface remains completely wet with unbound free moisture. The rate of evaporation matches the rate of convective heat transfer, maintaining the product surface at the thermodynamic wet bulb temperature of the incoming drying air.