Briefly, I have tried to calculate the “height” of the coffee-volume within the roaster-volume. I assumed the coffee is “like a fluid”; filling the lower elevations first. I have used “dimension-less terms” so that many configurations may be evaluated; e.g., the ratio coffee-volume to roaster-volume, the ratio “height” to cylinder-radius, etc.

I apologize for not knowing your Email address. I have not located a method to attach files through this interface. When I have the Email address, or become aware of how to attach files through the interface, then I will send the information I have to you.

I have my “first version” cylinder analysis completed; analysis and spreadsheet. I have the spreadsheet in an Excel format. I created the analysis with XHTML/MathML but I did a “quick conversion” to PDF for distribution. I am assuming you would prefer the PDF file; XHTML/MathML file can be viewed on browsers that have MathML built-in, I am only aware of Amaya and Firefox.

I am more than half-way through the analysis document for a sphere. I have not created the spreadsheet.

Some people consider the amount of coffee within a roaster volume as important design and process control parameters.

I am currently thinking that the roaster-volume and the coffee-volume are important but I am uncertain about the effects and interactions. My thinking process is “stuck” on the “air requirements for the roasting process” where the air-flow-rate around the beans may be very important; other parameters interact with this parameter. The roaster-volume, coffee-volume and air-flow-paths all contribute to the rate of air over the coffee beans.

I have created a brief analytical analysis of the cylinder configuration. I have documents that describes my analysis (PDF and XML/MathML – no artwork, I am not good at it and I don’t have the tools to complete in a brief time). I have a spreadsheet summarizing my analysis.

I can Email these documents if you are interested in them.

I am currently working on the sphere analysis. I have a “back of envelope analysis” done but I have not prepared any documents.