A method, based on the analysis of heat transfer is developed for the design of contact dryers in thin film boiling for sludge treatment. An experimental device was built in order to estimate the heat flux density exchanged between a hot metallic plate and the drying sample. This specific device is made of a thick copper plate heated at a temperature above 100°C, on which the sludge is coated. The contact temperature and the heat flux density are estimated using a temperature sensor inside the copper block and an inverse conduction method (Beck's sequential function specification method). The corresponding drying curve is deduced from an energy balance. Sludge drying was studied on an electrically heated laboratory continuous drum dryer. A simple steady state model of the drum dryer was developed by taking into account the combined effects of internal and external transfers. This model is validated by comparison with drying curves obtained from sampling and simulation. In this case, the relative importance of internal and external heat transfers is highlighted.