Model of the pressing and drying system of organic material

Abstract

Abstract The following paper presents a model of a system operating and drying food waste. This paper was written in response to the challenge of reducing food waste, minimizing environmental pollution, decay processes, and exploring the possibility of using said waste. The design of such a system has proven to be innovative, despite still being under construction. Whilst the pressing and drying process itself is not new, the list of process parameters has not previously been used, thus proving innovative in the developed model. High pressure pressing does not only change the geometric form or the physical properties of the material. Such a process also changes the physicochemical properties. The authors' previous experience in pressing organic materials is referenced in this work. Basic parameters such as temperature, pressure and process duration have been developed in earlier studies. In the proposed model, the friction against the walls in the compression chamber have been eliminated. This changes the parameters inside the compression chamber and will certainly improve the lifetime of the system. Previous solutions, such as screw presses, or for higher power - piston ones, were not durable and very energy-consuming. The new solution is much more durable and allows for use of higher pressures. Depending on the materials selected for the process, it will be possible to obtain new products that have not been produced before, due to the limitations of the pressing process. The developed model of pressing and drying organic materials will also allow the further production of ecological fuels from waste materials, like from the waste of the wood industry. It will also allow the use of straw in the production of new building materials. After making the model, there will be a wide scope for further research.