Analysis of the process of energy plants drying during the production of solid biofuels

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the stages of production of solid biofuels from energy plants and notes that the drying processes in technological processes consume up to 70 % of total energy consumption. The relevance and advantages of low-temperature drying are substantiated. Aim: intensification of the process of dehydration of energy plants, determination of rational parameters of the drying agent and dehydration conditions. Energy willow was used as an object of dehydration. Drying was carried out until the material reached a residual moisture content of 5...6 %. Studies on the effect of drying agent temperature on the kinetics of moisture exchange have shown that increasing the temperature from 80 °C to 100 °C enhances heat and mass transfer and reduces the process duration to 25 %. Increasing the specific load has a positive effect on the productivity of the drying plant and increases the amount of processed raw materials. The total duration of dehydration from the minimum load to the maximum increases by 3.5 times. The paper notes that a significant parameter of the impact on the kinetics of drying and increase the efficiency of the process is the method of grinding raw material. The most intensive mode corresponds to the method of grinding willow by combining abrasion and impact. With this method of grinding, the drying time is reduced from 15 % to 25 % compared to those considered. The established conditions and parameters of low-temperature drying provide intensification and efficiency of the process and obtaining dried energy willow with low and evenly distributed residual moisture.