What is the mechanism of heat transfer and air flow in coffee roasters?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the convection process in coffee roasting, detailing how heat is produced by gas burners and transferred to incoming cold air, which then heats up and enters the roasting chamber. The heat absorption process involves the hot air transferring energy to the coffee beans through convective heat transfer, with the beans absorbing this heat as they rotate in the drum. Increasing airflow in the drum enhances heat transfer due to higher turbulence, but there is a threshold beyond which excessive airflow may reduce heat transfer efficiency and cool the beans. The conversation also touches on the potential use of infrared heating in some roasting machines as an alternative to hot air convection. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for optimizing the roasting process.
Chemchampa
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Hello,

I have here a complex question. My background is Chemistry and Optoelectronics. I wasn't the best when we were studying Thermodynamics at uni so I have some knowledge-gaps. Anyways, here is my problem.
Can somebody explain me the whole process of the convection in the coffee roaster. So here is the process (I present it very simply here leaving the space for the extensive explanations):
- the heat is produced by the gas burners (natural gas),
- incoming cold air passes through the burners and gets hot,
- hot air moves into the roasting chamber (rotating metal drum)
- then it enters roasting drum with coffee,
- the coffee absorbs the heat.
- the rest is clear to me : ]
I need to understand the process into great depth. I understand complex equations so feel free to drop some more sophisticated explanations.
My questions:
What is exactly the process of the heat absorption of the incoming cold air? How does it happen?
What does happen to the air moving into the roasting chamber (rotating metal drum)?
What does happen to the beans in the drum? I know they absorb heat by the convective heat transfer. But what is exactly happening? What happens to the air that released the energy and gave up to the beans?
What does happen with the air when I increase the air flow in the drum?
What does happen with the beans when I increase the air flow in the drum?
I know that increased air flow means the air moves faster, higher turbulence, and that leads to a higher heat transfer. What is the explanation? I guess there should be also a moment until when the heat transfer is efficient, right? What's beyond? High airflow decreases heat transfer and it cools down the beans or what? Is there a speed, air amount limit?

I've already read about Heat transfer, Convective heat transfer, Turbulence, Nusselt, Biot, Reynolds numbers and the list goes on... So please try to show your solicitude by giving some ideas rather than giving links to Wiki or so.

Thanks in advance.
 
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