DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A PROCESS SIMULATOR FOR DRYING SUBBITUMINOUS COAL

Drying subbituminous coal has never been practiced commercially. The commercial dryers built to date have been designed for drying surface moisture in conjunction with upstream coal preparation facilities. This type of drying is mainly controlled by input energy and the basis of the design is an energy balance. In drying inherent moisture from subbituminous coal, the thermal conductivity of the coal and the diffusion of molecular water within coal particles impose limitations on the process conditions. Energy input and solids residence time in the dryer have to be controlled properly for simultaneously balancing the heat and mass transfer within the coal particles. Improper control of either parameter can cause fires and explosions during the key steps of the drying process—drying and cooling

In parallel to the Anaconda coal drying pilot plant program, a cross-flow, fluid-bed coal drying/cooling process simulator was developed for: (1) understanding the drying phenomena on an individual particle basis; (2) analyzing potential risks and safety limits, and (3) designing the Anaconda pilot plant program

The development of the process simulator was based on both first principles and laboratory data and can be divided into two phases:

1 Development of a semi-mechanistic drying model for Powder River Basin subbituminous coal employing an analytical solution of the diffusion equation

2.Formulation of a fluid-bed cross-bed cross-flow dryer/cooler simulator employing simultaneous heat and mass transfer

This model was validated against process variables data taken on a 4 tph pilot plant. An operable range, or process envelope, has been developed through the pilot plant experience and the process simulation study. Based on the model predictions, an uncertainly range was defined in the design recommendations of a pioneer coal drying plant in scale-up.     

LOW TEMPERATURE OXIDATION OF LOW RANK COALS

The low temperature oxidation of a Montana subbituminous coal was investigated using round bottom 100 ml flasks in constant temperature baths. The experiments were carried out in normal and oxygen enriched air at 30°C, 45°C and 70°C with particle sizes ranging from 4 mesh to 100 mesh. Periodic analysis of gas samples from the flasks provided the rate data. The reactivity of the as received coal was compared with that of the same coal dried (i) in high pressure steam and (ii) in hot water

A rate equation has been proposed incorporating the effects of oxygen diffusion and surface reaction. For higher oxygen concentration and smaller particle sizes, the zero order surface reaction was found to be controlling. The temperature dependency of the reaction rate was found to be well represented by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy varied slightly under various conditions between 15 to 20 kca)/g mole

The reactivity of the hot water dried coal was found to be similar to that of the as received coal. Steam dried coal however, was found to be much less reactive.     

Investigation of combustion reactivity and NO emission characteristics of chars obtained from the devolatilization of raw and partially dried lignite

In an attempt to achieve the clean and efficient utilization of lignite, drying pre-treatment was performed in this study before lignite combustion. The combustion reactivity and NO emission characteristics of the partially dried lignite samples in the char combustion stage were investigated by means of TG and isothermal combustion tests, and the reactivity could be summarized as the following order: L1>L0.5>raw>L3>LT>L5 (chars obtained from the devolatilization of the raw and partially dried coals at 378 K for 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 120 minutes) and the NO conversion ratio of L1 was the lowest. When the moisture content in the coal particles was relatively high (19.68%-35.84%), the drying treatment could increase the combustion reactivity and inhibit NO emission in the char combustion stage; When the moisture content was within a relatively low range (0.17%-19.68%), the moisture removal had negative effects on the reactivity and NO emission in the char combustion stage. The surface behaviour and microstructure of the raw coal char and chars derived from the partially dried coals were clarified by temperature programmed desorption/reduction (TPD/TPR) and Raman spectroscopy. The results illustrated that L1 derived from L_c1 (19.68%) was the most reactive sample with the largest amount of C(O) on the particle surface. There were also more reactive aromatic structures in L1 than other samples. Compared with direct combustion or excessive drying treatment, lignite should be dried to a certain degree (19.68%) for optimized lignite combustion.     

RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF LOW-RANK COAL-WATER SLURRIES

The rheological behavior of low-rank coal-water slurries was studied using a Brookfleld Rheolog viscometer. A Sarpy Creek subbituminous coal from Montana, with particle sizes ranging from 0.044 mm to 0.223 mm, was used. The solids concentration in the slurry varied from 15 to 65 weight % and the temperature was maintained constant at 82°F. The rheological behavior of the slurry made from as received coal was compared with that of the slurry made from hot water dried coal

Coal-water slurries, made from both as received and hot water dried coal exhibited pseudoplastic behavior. The shear stress was found to be related to the shear rate by the power law model. As expected, the apparent viscosity was found to increase sharply with solids loading. It was also observed that the apparent viscosities of the slurries made from hot water dried coal were lower than those made from as received coal.     

SOLAR DRYING OF RAISING

The drying of Sultana seedless grapes was investigated under intermittent and continuous operating conditions in a laboratory solar installation involving a thermal storage bed and an auxiliary heater. The effect of pretreatment, and of the a i r velocity on the drying rate of the grapes at constant temperature was also studied in relation t o the quality of the dried product.

Solar drying of the grapes was accomplished in 30.5 to 60.5 h of intermittent operation, or 19 to 60 h of continuous drying, involving the thermal storage bed and the auxiliary heater. The shortest drying time (19 h ) and the highest quality dried product were obtained with grapes dipped in a hot (80 C ) solution of sodium hydroxide and ethyl oleate, which were dried continuously at 42°C and 2m/s, air temperature and velocity respectively.

The mean apparent diffusivity of moisture in raisins at 6o°C and air velocity 2m/s was estimated as 1.0.10-10 m2/s.     

VACUUM DRYING OF OAKWOOD :MOISTURE STRAINS AND DRYING PROCESS

After presenting the characteristics and the data acquired in an industrial evacuated kiln, a simplified analysis of heat and mass transfers is proposed. This analysis is based on the existence of a evaporization front determining two zones in the longitudinal direction :

-a dried zone in which moisture is less than 30 %

-a wet zone in which moisture is still at its initial value.

Such a hypothesis allows to study transfers transversally first, then longitudinally. Both equation systems ore linked by conditions of continuity for mass and energy.

This study allows to determine the shapes of the temperature and pressure curves in the longitudinal direction. The linearity of the variation of the average drying velocity versus the average moisture content of the board is also proved. Finally, the modeling of mechanical phenomena thanks to a finite element program shows the rupture zones appearing during the drying process.     

CHANGE IN VIABILITY OF MAIZE DURING HIGH-TEMPERATURE DRYING

Germination and moisture content loss data were collected of maize with a moisture content ranging from 15 to 32% (w.b.), an air temperature from 40 to 75°C, and an exposure time from 0.5 to 180 minutes.

A germination-retention model was developed based on the normally distributed death-rate theory (NDD). The NDD model was combined with a concurrent-flow (CCF) dryer model, and tested against viability data of maize dried in a commercial two-stage CCF dryer. Acceptable agreement between the predicted and experimental viabilities was obtained.

The effect of the CCF dryer design, and of several operating parameters, on the loss of maize-seed viability was analyzed. Simulation with the NDD-CCF dryer model shows that high quality seed can be produced by drying at air temperatures well above 100°C.     

高温干燥对褐煤孔隙结构及水分复吸的影响

利用卧式固定床实验炉制得不同温度下干燥处理的煤样,采用低温氮吸附法测试煤样的比表面积、孔体积和孔径分布等孔隙特征参数,使用复吸实验装置测定不同干燥程度褐煤煤样的平衡含水量,探索了高温干燥处理后褐煤孔隙结构的演变与其复吸特性之间的关联规律。结果表明：褐煤原煤及不同干燥温度(600~800℃)下半焦的等温吸附曲线均属于第Ⅱ类吸附等温线,褐煤原煤、600℃和700℃干燥半焦的吸附回线均属于L1型,800℃干燥半焦的吸附回线有从L1型转变为L2型的趋势;随着干燥温度的增加,干燥半焦的比表面积先增大后减小,介孔峰值的孔径微分同样先增大后减小,而大孔孔径微分基本保持不变;分形维数D₁和D₂呈相反的变化趋势,且D₂>D₁;不同干燥程度半焦的复吸曲线变化趋势相同,且平衡含水量随着干燥温度的升高而减小;半焦复吸特性与孔隙结构有关,平衡含水率与其孔容积之间呈较好的线性关系。     

EFFECT OF DRYING METHODS ON MOISTURE SORPTION ISOTHERMS OF FUFU AT THREE TEMPERATURES

Moisture sorption characteristics for dried fufu using three drying methods at 25°C, 32°C and 45°C were determined experimentally for water activity ranging from 0.11 to 0.96. At a given temperature and water activity, the rotary dried fufu had the highest equilibrium moisture content while the sun dried had the lowest.

Four linear and four nonlinear sorption models were used to analyze the data. The linear GAB model showed the best fit while the nonlinear Bradley model was the best over the whole range of water activity in their respective groups. Also estimates of the net isosteric heats of sorption and their dependence on moisture content were presented for each product.     

THE INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE ON THE KINETICS OF VACUUM DRYING OF KETOPROFEN

This paper explores the influence of temperature and pressure on drying kinetics of 2-(3-benzoylphenil propionic acid) ketoprofen, in a vacuum dryer on laboratory scale, Experimentally determined relations between moisture content and drying rate vs time, were approximated with an exponential model. Model parameters were correlated with drying conditions (temperature, pressure) and defined by functions of their potentions.

From an energy balance of the process, a mathematical model for simulating dependence of sample temperature vs drying time, and moisture content of material, has been developed.

Simulation of the drying kinetics and sample temperature, by use of those functional dependencies shows good agreement with experimental results.     

褐煤的热处理改质研究

对水含量较高的Ｂａｎｋｏ褐煤进行了蒸发干燥处理和煤油成浆覆盖沥青干燥处理,并用热重和热台红外等对所得煤样的组成,结构和反应行为进行了考察。结果表明,煤油成浆热处理并覆盖沥青既能达到较好的脱水效果,还能适当增加煤的氧化反应活化能,从而降低煤的低温氧化反应性,达到抑制干燥煤自燃的目的。不过,为明显降低煤的低温氧化反应性,还需改变实验条件进行进一步研究。     

Kinetic Study and Modeling of the Degradation of the Maize Kernels Quality During Drying in Fluidized Bed

Only a few kinetic studies have been reported in the literature on the evolution of comercial quality of maize during drying and to the best of our knowledge no model allows to predict the dynamic coupling of drying and product quality evolution. The aim of this work is to present new information on the effects of the operating conditions (harvest year, weight of maize to be dried, initial moisture content of the grain and air temperature) on the evolution of maize saline-soluble protein denaturation and the wet-milling quality during drying of maize in a batch floatation fluidized bed dryer. Also, kinetic laws are proposed for the quality criteria that will be combined with drying model already derived [1, 2].

The experimental results show that the degradation of the main components of maize (starch and proteins) is considerably affected by the temperature level and to a lesser extent by the initial moisture content of grains. Beyond 70°C, the denaturation of saline-soluble proteins occurs rapidly in the heat-up period of the grains. As for the wet-milling quality degradation, it starts only above 90°C.

Kinetic laws derived from this study express the variation of the degradation rate of proteic and wet milling quality as functions of the solubility of saline-soluble proteins or the starch-gluten separation index, the grain moisture content and temperature.     

The effect of moisture content and air-drying on spontaneous combustion characteristics of two Turkish lignites

The results of an experimental study aimed at evaluating the spontaneous combustion characteristics of two Turkish lignites moistured and air-dried at varying times are discussed. The spontaneous combustion characteristics of the coals were determined using Crossing Point Methods adapted to our laboratories conditions. The content of three predominant oxygen functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, and carbonyl) of untreated, moisten and air-dried coal samples were also determined with wet chemical methods. The content of oxygen functional groups in moisten coal samples do not differ significantly that of untreated coal samples, for realized in vacuum desicator to moistured of coal samples. The liability of spontaneous combustion of the two coals was reduced when moisture content increased with increase in contacted time to water vapour. The moisten coal samples was dried in laboratory during 24 and 48 h time period. The concentration of oxygen contain functional groups of drying coal samples increased with increase of contact time with air and decrease of particle size. The liability of spontaneous combustion of the air-dried coal samples increased with increase of contacted time with air and with decrease of moisture content.     

Steam Drying - Modelling and Applications

The concept of steam drying originates from the mid of the last century. However, a broad industrial acceptance of the technique has so far not taken place. The paper deals with modelling the steam drying process and applications of steam drying with in certain industrial sectors where the technique has been deemed to hove special opponunities.

In the modelling scction the mass and heat transfer proceases are described along with equilibrium, capillarity and sorption phenomena occurring in porous materials during the steam drying process. In addition existing models in the literslure are presented.

The applications discussed involve drying of fuels with high moisture contcna, cattle feed exemplified by sugar beet pulp. lumber. paper pulp. paper and sludges.

Steam drying is compared to flue gas drying of biofuels prior to combustion in a boiler. With reference to a current insrallation in Sweden. the exergy losses. as manifested by loss of co-generation cupacity. are discussed. The energy saving potentid when using steam drying of sugar beet pulp as compared to other possible plant configurations is demonstrated.

Mechanical vapour recompression applied to steam drying is analysed with reference to reponed dau from industriul plsnts. Finally. environmcntul advantages when using steam drying are presented.     

A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR PARALLEL FLOW DRYER FOR SLABS WITH HIGH THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY

An analytical model for the process is developed. The thermal diffusivity of the drying slabs is assumed infinite and the moisture diffusivity constant during the entire drying process.

With specified initial and boundary conditions, the mathematical model yields a two-part solution for the diffusion equation. The first part is valid for the initial drying during which the surface moisture content exceeds the value of fiber saturation. This part of the solution is used until the surface moisture content drops to the fiber saturation value. The moisture profile at the end of this period is used as the initial condition for the second period of drying which takes place under hygroscopic conditions.

Two simplifying assumptions are adapted for the hygroscopic region: 1. The dependence between the surface temperature and the moisture content is linear. 2. Constant (average) absorption heat is used during this second drying period.

For both parts of the solution, the surface moisture gradient is proportional to the local temperature difference between the drying air and the slab surface. This temperature difference can be expressed by means of a water mass balance equation for the part of the dryer between the slab in-feed and the point considered and by using the thermodynamic properties of the humid air.     

ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR DRYING LARGE ROUND BALES

Uniform density and softcore large round forage bales were dried under a variety of airflow and temperature regimes. The energy required to operate the fans and heaters was measured as the bales dried to an average final moisture content of 18 percent, wet basis. The energy requirement for drying both types of bales was found to be 33 kWh/tonne dry matter/moisture point reduction.

The soft-core bales tended to dry at a faster rate than the uniform density bales. Also, the final moisture content variation within the softcore bales was less than that within uniform density bales.     

SHRINKAGE OF APPLE DISKS DURING DRYING BY WARM AIR CONVECTION AND FREEZE DRYING

Volumetric and thickness shrinkage evaluated by direct measurement and n-heptane displacement were determined during convective and freeze drying of Golden delicious apples. For convective drying, the influence of blanching and diameter/thickness ratio of the apple disks used were analysed at different levels of moisture content under constant conditions. It was found that shrinkage of dried samples, both by convection and by freeze-drying, is anisotropic to a level which depends on sample geometry (ratio diameter/thickness) used. Blanching did not affect shrinkage results.

Based on results obtained a new model to predict bulk density of materials during drying is proposed, showing a better fit to experimental data than previous models reported in the literature. This model was further used to predict changes in apple porosity during drying.     

Liquefaction of partially dried and oxidized coals: 3. Liquefaction results

Samples of partially dried and oxidized Belle Ayr subbituminous coal were liquefied in a recycle donor solvent (SRC-ll heavy distillate) to observe the effect of coal pretreatment on conversion. Because subbituminous coals have moisture contents typically > 25%, it would appear useful to dry these coals prior to liquefaction; however, the drying of Belle Ayr coal, either in nitrogen or oxygen-containing gases, resulted in a significant decrease in yields of liquefied coal products. The liquefaction residues recovered from these runs were examined by optical microscopy and were found to contain high levels of coke. This coke appeared to have formed by polymerization of coal-derived liquid products.     

A Simulation of Wet Pocket Lumber Drying

In general, wood containing wet pockets is difficult to dry and to ensure uniformity of moisture content at the end of the drying process. Large variations of final moisture content and severe case hardening are common problems associated with the drying of wet wood. In order to devise optimal strategies for drying wood containing wet pockets, it is necessary to understand its complex moisture movement mechanisms and therefore predict drying times and final moisture content. Sub-alpine fir dimension lumber was used in this research because of its inherent issues related to wet pockets.

A two-dimensional mathematical drying model for wood containing wet pockets was developed. An effective diffusion coefficient (D_eff) was utilized in the model and heat and mass transfer equations were solved using a control volume approach. The difficulties involved in the simulation of the drying process of wet pocket lumber are due to the differences in moisture content and physical properties between wet and normal wood. Thus, an adjustable D_eff based on the moisture content (for both below and above fiber saturation point) was used during the simulation.

Four drying runs involving green unsorted sub-alpine fir lumber were carried out in a 3-ft laboratory kiln and in an 8-ft pilot kiln. The results of the simulations were in agreement with the results obtained through the drying experiments.     

Minimization of Moisture Readsorption in Dried Coal Samples

Low-rank coals csonstitute a major energy source for the future as reserves of such high-moisture coals around the world are vast. Currently they are considered undesirable since high moisture content entails high transportation costs, potential safety hazards in transportation and storage, and the low thermal efficiency obtained in combustion of such coals. Furthermore, low-moisture-content coal is needed for the various coal pyrolysis, gasification developed. Hence, various upgrading processes have been developed to reduce the moisture content. Moisture readsorption and spontaneous combustion are important issues in coal upgrading processes. This article discusses results of laboratory experiments conducted to study the options for minimization of readsorption of moisture after drying of selected coal samples. Results suggest that there is little benefit in drying low-rank coal at high temperatures. It was found that the higher the amount of bitumen used for coating, the lower is the readsorption of moisture by dried coal. Also, mixing high-temperature-dried coal with wet coal in appropriate proportion can yield reduced moisture content as the sensible heat in the hot coal is utilized for evaporation.