Rudy Sutanto, Sujita .
The thermal conditions inside a rotary dryer are influenced by the cylinder rotation speed, which determines the distribution of hot air during the drying process. These differences in thermal conditions affect the drying chamber's ability to utilize available heat. This study evaluated the effect of varying cylinder rotation speeds on the temperature profile and heat utilization effectiveness in the corn drying process. Tests were conducted for 6 hours using three variations in cylinder rotation speeds. The inlet air temperature, drying chamber temperature, and outlet air temperature were recorded every 30 minutes using a thermocouple. Heat utilization effectiveness was determined based on the relationship between the inlet air temperature, drying chamber temperature, and ambient temperature. During the drying process, the inlet air temperature was in the range of 70.2–73.5°C, while the drying chamber temperature and outlet air temperature changed as the drying process progressed. Heat utilization effectiveness increased from approximately 80% at the beginning of the drying process to approximately 90% at the end of the process. Different cylinder rotation speeds resulted in different temperature profile characteristics, followed by changes in heat utilization effectiveness in the drying chamber. Higher rotation speeds were able to maintain more stable thermal conditions, resulting in better heat utilization. These findings indicate that adjusting the cylinder rotation speed is an important parameter for improving the thermal performance of a rotary dryer in the corn drying process.