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Investigations into the drying kinetics of biomass in a fluidized bed dryer using electrostatic sensing and digital imaging techniques

Yan, Yong, Qi, Bojian, Zhang, Wenbiao, Wang, Xueyao, Mo, Qingqing (2022) Investigations into the drying kinetics of biomass in a fluidized bed dryer using electrostatic sensing and digital imaging techniques. Fuel, 308 . Article Number 122000. ISSN 0016-2361. (doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122000) (KAR id:90175)

Abstract

Investigations into drying kinetics of biomass in fluidized bed dryers are essential for the control of drying processes, enhancing productivity and reducing energy consumption. However, there is limited research on drying characteristics of biomass at different bubble locations due to complex hydrodynamics around bubbles in the bed. In this paper, a new method is proposed by combining electrostatic sensing and digital imaging techniques to obtain moisture contents, drying models, moisture diffusivities, activation energies and mass transfer coefficients of biomass at different bubble locations. Experimental tests were conducted on a laboratory-scale fluidized bed dryer for different air velocities at a range of air temperatures. Five mathematical drying models are evaluated in the paper. It is found that the Page drying model is most suitable for describing the drying process of biomass in the fluidized bed. The results also show that the mass transfer coefficient of biomass at the interior and boundary of the bubble is higher than that at the exterior of the bubble. In addition, although the mass transfer coefficient increases with the air temperature and air velocity, the highest air temperature and highest air velocity are not optimal conditions. For example, a bubble flow turns into a slug flow or plug flow at an air velocity of 0.56 m/s and an air temperature of 75°C.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122000
Uncontrolled keywords: Fluidized bed dryer, Biomass, Drying kinetics, Electrostatic sensing, Digital imaging
Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > TA165 Engineering instruments, meters etc. Industrial instrumentation
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Engineering and Digital Arts
Depositing User: Yong Yan
Date Deposited: 13 Sep 2021 01:19 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Sep 2022 23:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/90175 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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