1986 Volume 48 Issue 3-4 Pages 303-308
The experiments for obtaining the diffusion coefficients of tea leaves and stems were made in order to compare the drying rates of tea leaves and stems which were rather different. As the results of experiments, the diffusion coefficient of stems was greater than that of leaves, however the drying rate of leaves was greater than that of stems, because the distance of moisture transfer of stems was longer than that of leaves. However, the drying rate of stems was greater than that of leaves under the effect of kinetic action in primary drying process. This kinetic action caused that the diffusion coefficient of tea leaves became great, and it is one of the reasons that the constant rate period was maintained long comparatively in the primary drying process.
