The optimal drying of porous materials

This study models convective drying at the pore scale using a two-component two-phase pseudopotential lattice Boltzmann model (LBM). Layered porous media with varying pore sizes and contact angles are designed based on the capillary pumping principle, ensuring effective capillary transport to the surface even at low saturation levels. This promotes high drying rates and shortens the drying period. In the optimal scenario, a narrow drying front quickly penetrates toward the bottom of the porous medium and then expands horizontally, followed by layer-by-layer drying from the bottom up to the surface. These findings offer valuable insights into the rational design of innovative porous materials with controlled drying behavior, paving the way for enhanced drying processes in various applications.