System for automated design by physical processes of 3D models in a drying chamber for hygroscopic materials

Designing 3D models of drying chambers, especially of a new type, is a long and complex process. Nevertheless, the availability of 3D models of drying chambers allows for the necessary research before their actual design. In this paper, a software for the automated design of a 3D model of a drying chamber was developed to save time and material resources. To simulate the drying process of hygroscopic materials in this 3D model, an asynchronous cellular automaton model was developed. The software is the result of the programming implementation of several algorithms, including: an algorithm for automated design of a 3D model of a drying chamber using SolidWorks API tools; an algorithm for representing the 3D model under study as a cellular automaton field; an algorithm for calculating input data for simulation; an algorithm that uses transition rules for the asynchronous cellular automaton model; an algorithm for saving and displaying simulation results; and an algorithm for comparing simulation results. The software was verified and the mathematical models were validated using experimental data. The input data for the simulation were obtained from real technological conditions implemented in real drying chambers. The modeling results were used to obtain graphical dependencies of the desired material and drying agent parameters over time. The analysis of the results included their comparison with the data obtained by sensors in a real drying chamber. The relative error was determined, the average values of which did not exceed 13%, which confirms the accuracy of the results. In the long-term, the developed software has the potential to become a valuable tool in the design of new and more efficient drying chambers, offering opportunities for designing, modeling, and analyzing research results.