The simulation based models minimize the cost, time
requirement and any potential risks that may be present in
actual experimental analysis. Many numerical models describe
external mass transfer in macroscopic level and only a few
research works discuss the internal mass transfer in
microscopic level in the process of vegetable drying [5], [6].
Understanding the drying characteristics of copra with
reference to operating parameters and spatial distribution of
moisture and temperature inside the coconut kernel may lead
to develop controlled drying processes in order to make
quality copra. The main objective of the present work is to
determine the diffusion coefficient for internal moisture
transfer and to describe the spatial distribution of moisture
inside the copra during hot air drying. In this study
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to
describe the process of moisture removal in copra and hot air
drying experiments were carried out to fine-tune the model
parameters.