Energy Saving in Industrial Wood Drying Addressed by a Multiscale Computational Model: Board,Stack, and Kiln

This article proposes a multiscale computational model able to calculate energy consumption in a batch lumber kiln. A dual-scale computational model of wood drying deals with the boards/stack interaction and serves as a basis for the present work. A new module was added here that calculates heat losses through kiln walls (convection, condensation) and the energy used by each kiln component (fans, heating elements, humidifier, vacuum pump, etc.). The corresponding mathematical formulation is presented and then theoretical results are compared to those collected in an industrial vacuum kiln. As application example, the effect of air reversal, air velocity, and kiln insulation are exhibited, which depicts the great potential and prospects of this new tool for energy savings in relation to the product quality.     

Model and Simulation of a Ported Kiln for Iron Oxide Pellet Induration

A mathematical model of a ported kiln for iron oxide pelletizing was developed to simulate the effects of under‐bed air injection on kiln fuel requirements and magnetite oxidation. A tanks‐in‐series model was used to set up material and energy balance equations for countercurrent flow of solids and gas through the kiln. The diffusion‐limited, shrinking core model was used for the magnetite oxidation reaction kinetics. The port air distribution in the model was adjusted by global optimization to minimize the fuel requirement. The simulation results show that magnetite oxidation may be completed in the kiln with significant fuel savings.     

High‐Pressure Treatment of Wood – Combination of Mechanical and Thermal Drying in the “I/D Process”

Thermal drying of materials with internal pores is always a time‐consuming and energy‐intensive step within a production process. For chemical and pharmaceutical mass products and, in particular, for wood as an important raw material it is desirable to reduce the water content before thermal treatment by mechanical operations. The wood‐processing industry, facing a rising stress of competition, is forced more than ever to offer high‐quality products at lowest prices. Today, drying of timber is mostly done by air drying or by technical drying in kiln dryers. In any case, drying is necessary to prevent deterioration in quality by shrinkage, formation of cracks, discoloration or infestation. A new process of dewatering wood by combining mechanical and thermal means has been developed at the University of Karlsruhe. Compared to conventional drying processes, short drying times and a low residual moisture content can be achieved and, thus, energy consumption and costs can be reduced. In industrial wood drying only thermal processes (e.g., convective kiln drying, vacuum drying, etc.) have been established because so far no method has been known for removing liquid by mechanical force without significant change in wood structure. With the new I/D process chances for alternatives to conventional thermal drying or for mechanothermal applications are offered.     

Rotary Cement Kiln Simulator (RoCKS): Integrated modeling of pre-heater, calciner, kiln and clinker cooler

This paper presents an integrated reaction engineering based mathematical model for clinker formation in cement industry. Separate models for pre-heater, calciner, rotary kiln and cooler were initially developed and coupled together to build an integrated simulator. Appropriate models for simulating gas-solid contact and heat transfer in pre-heaters were developed. Calciner was modeled by considering simultaneous combustion of coal particles and calcination of raw meal. Complex heat transfer and reactions (solid-solid, gas-solid and homogeneous reactions in gas phase) in rotary kiln were modeled using three sub-models coupled to each other. Solid-solid reactions in the bed region of the kiln were modeled using pseudo-homogeneous approximation. Melting of solids in the bed and formation of coating within the kiln were accounted. Clinker cooler was simulated by developing a two-dimensional model to capture cross-flow heat transfer between air and hot clinkers. The individual models were coupled with each other via mass and energy communication through common boundaries. The coupled model equations were solved iteratively. The model predictions agree well with the observations and experience from cement industry. The model was used to gain better understanding of influence of operating conditions on energy consumption in cement plant. Several ways for reducing energy consumption were computationally investigated. The integrated model, the developed software RoCKS (for Rotary Cement Kiln Simulator) and results presented here will be useful for enhancing our understanding and for enhancing the performance of clinker manufacturing.     

STACK-WIDE EFFECTS IN THE MODELING OF SOLAR KILNS FOR DRYING TIMBER

This study examines the stack-wide effects due to the humidification and cooling of air as it passes through a 6 m wide stack of Australian ironbark timber for conditions that are representative of those for solar drying (dry and wet-bulb temperatures of 60 and 50°C, respectively). A solar kiln model for a greenhouse-type design has been modified to account for the drying of timber boards and the possibility of stack-wide effects, in terms of moisture-content differences in the streamwise direction of air flow through the stack. The maximum difference between the moisture contents of the leading and trailing boards is predicted to be 0.011 kg kg^-1 for these conditions, compared with timber moisture contents of 0.15-0.35 kg kg^-1. Hence, the stack-wide effect is insignificant for these conditions in this greenhouse kiln design and may be ignored, reducing the simulation time by over 50%. In addition, 14 elements within a finite-difference model for the drying of the timber boards (25 mm thick) gives predictions of the drying time that are acceptably accurate, while minimizing the computational time.     

Calculation of Limestone Burning in a Coke-Fired Kiln

A mathematical model of the steady-state process of limestone burning in a kiln is proposed in the one-dimensional approximation. The model is developed on the basis of the laws of conservation of mass and energy with regard for the kinetics of physicochemical transformations and is a set of ordinary differential equations. If the geometric parameters of the kiln are known, then by setting the conditions at the inlet and outlet, i.e., the boundary conditions, and solving the boundary-value problem, one can determine the thermochemical and hydrodynamic situation in the kiln. In particular, the model allows one to find the kiln length distributions of the compositions and temperatures of the solid and gas phases, the mass flow rates, and the volume contents at various feed rates and initial temperatures of air, raw material, and fuel and different coke and limestone particle sizes.     

Modeling Superheated Steam Vacuum Drying of Wood

A two-dimensional mathematical model developed for vacuum-contact drying of wood was adapted to simulate superheated steam vacuum drying. The moisture and heat equations are based on the water potential concept whereas the pressure equation is formulated considering unsteady-state mass conservation of dry air. A drying test conducted on sugar maple sapwood in a laboratory vacuum kiln was used to infer the convective mass and heat transfer coefficients through a curve fitting technique. The average air velocity was 2.5 m s^-1 and the dry-bulb temperature varied between 60 and 66°C. The ambient pressure varied from 15 to 11 kPa. Simulation results indicate that heat and mass transfer coefficients are moisture content dependent. The simulated drying curve based on transfer coefficients calculated from boundary layer theory poorly fits experimental results. The functional relation for the relative permeability of wood to air is a key parameter in predicting the pressure evolution in wood in the course of drying. In the case of small vacuum kilns, radiant heat can contribute substantially to the total heat transfer to the evaporative surface at the early stages of drying. As for conventional drying, the air velocity could be reduced at the latter stage of drying with little or no change to the drying rate.     

PROTOTYPE HIGH TEMPERATURE/HIGH PRESSURE KILN FOR THE EVALUATION OF WOOD DRYING SCHEDULES

A new laboratory kiln was developed and built to perform over a very wide range of drying conditions. For example, the dry bulb temperature can vary from 30°C to 150°C and the dew point can be adjusted between 20°C and 130°C. Obviously, with such a high level of dew point, pressures over atmospheric pressure may be induced inside the chamber. For this reason, the kiln has been designed to withstand pressure of up to 3 bars. This kiln can also perform vacuum drying.

A programmable controller allows the temperature levels to be maintained within ± 0.2°C. Because the whole kiln can be heated only through the agitated water present at the bottom of the kiln, the load temperature can be increased up to 130°C in saturated conditions, without any change of moisture content.

The kiln has various sensors attached and is capable of withstanding severe conditions (high temperature, saturated vapour and elevated pressures). At present, air and water temperatures as well as temperature at different locations within the board can be collected during the drying process. A load cell and pressure gauges are also available. The first tests performed using this equipment are presented at the end of the paper.     

PROTOTYPE HIGH TEMPERATURE/HIGH PRESSURE KILN FOR THE EVALUATION OF WOOD DRYING SCHEDULES

ABSTRACT

A new laboratory kiln was developed and built to perform over a very wide range of drying conditions. For example, the dry bulb temperature can vary from 30°C to 150°C and the dew point can be adjusted between 20°C and 130°C. Obviously, with such a high level of dew point, pressures over atmospheric pressure may be induced inside the chamber. For this reason, the kiln has been designed to withstand pressure of up to 3 bars. This kiln can also perform vacuum drying.

A programmable controller allows the temperature levels to be maintained within ± 0.2°C. Because the whole kiln can be heated only through the agitated water present at the bottom of the kiln, the load temperature can be increased up to 130°C in saturated conditions, without any change of moisture content.

The kiln has various sensors attached and is capable of withstanding severe conditions (high temperature, saturated vapour and elevated pressures). At present, air and water temperatures as well as temperature at different locations within the board can be collected during the drying process. A load cell and pressure gauges are also available. The first tests performed using this equipment are presented at the end of the paper.     

Modeling Superheated Steam Vacuum Drying of Wood

Abstract

A two-dimensional mathematical model developed for vacuum-contact drying of wood was adapted to simulate superheated steam vacuum drying. The moisture and heat equations are based on the water potential concept whereas the pressure equation is formulated considering unsteady-state mass conservation of dry air. A drying test conducted on sugar maple sapwood in a laboratory vacuum kiln was used to infer the convective mass and heat transfer coefficients through a curve fitting technique. The average air velocity was 2.5 m s^?1 and the dry-bulb temperature varied between 60 and 66°C. The ambient pressure varied from 15 to 11 kPa. Simulation results indicate that heat and mass transfer coefficients are moisture content dependent. The simulated drying curve based on transfer coefficients calculated from boundary layer theory poorly fits experimental results. The functional relation for the relative permeability of wood to air is a key parameter in predicting the pressure evolution in wood in the course of drying. In the case of small vacuum kilns, radiant heat can contribute substantially to the total heat transfer to the evaporative surface at the early stages of drying. As for conventional drying, the air velocity could be reduced at the latter stage of drying with little or no change to the drying rate.     

基于CFX的多腔回转炉中催化剂颗粒加热的数值模拟

采用计算流体动力学软件CFX研究多腔回转炉中催化剂颗粒的加热过程,预测物料在高温段的驻留时间,计算炉内物料、空气和炉壳的轴向温度分布及炉内热量分配. 结果表明,将空气进口速度增大至2.5倍,驻留时间缩短至0.978倍,多腔回转炉消耗的电能增大至1.918倍,电能消耗主要由炉外壁向外散热转变为空气升温吸热;将物料进口速度增大至5倍,驻留时间缩短至0.193倍,多腔回转炉消耗的电能增大至2.047倍,电能消耗主要由炉外壁向外界散热转变为物料升温吸热;将多腔回转炉的热传导系数增大至4倍,驻留时间延长至1.007倍,多腔回转炉消耗的电能增大至1.147倍,电能消耗主要是炉壳外壁向外界散热. 降低空气进口速度、适当减小催化剂进口速度和提高炉壳热传导系数对多腔回转炉的设计至关重要. 模拟的炉壳温度与测量数据在规律和数值上都符合较好.     

Development of process model of a rotary kiln for volatile organic compound recovery from coconut shell

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in coconut shell are wasted in the carbonization process of coconut shell due to the difficulty of recovery. The VOCs recovery is useful and necessary, because the VOCs are a sustainable energy source, and the recovery is an economically feasible project. A simulation model of the VOC recovery process from coconut shell using a rotary kiln is developed to investigate the process characteristics and the role of model parameters. The model includes the energy and material balances for the processing solid and the gas in the kiln. The validity of the proposed model is partially examined with the experimental results. From the simulation, the dominant heat transfer mechanism is determined for the understanding of the process operation. In addition, the optimal operating conditions of the rotary kiln are found for the use in the design and control of the kiln.     

熟料包心料的产生原因及解决措施

通过熟料岩相分析及热工标定诊断,熟料包心料产生的主要原因为烧成系统风量严重不足,窑炉煤粉燃烧不完全致使还原气氛较浓。通过采取将冲板流量计改为转子秤、将普通翻板阀更换为微动翻板阀、在三次风管入分解炉口加做导风墙、更换新的喷煤管等措施,回转窑工艺故障率大幅降低,熟料质量及性能显著提高,生产能耗下降明显。     

SIMULATION MODEL FOR INDUSTRIAL DRYERS: REDUCTION OF DRYING TIMES OF CERAMICS & SAVING ENERGY

ABSTRACT

A procedure was outlined to optimize industrial dryers for ceramics. The procedure consists of drying experiments on full-size products in a lab dryer, measurements of characteristics of the dryer and by simulations with DrySini. DrySim is a flexible simulation program in which a user can model his own dryer with predefined components. Two examples are given, the optimization of a chamber dryer and the optimization of a tunnel dryer. In both examples the production of the existing dryers could be increased and at the same time cost of energy could reduced by optimal use of waste air of kilns and minimizing mixing of kiln air with ambient air.     

Annihilation kinetics of color center in irradiated syndiotactic polystyrene at elevated temperatures

In situ absorbance of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) at elevated temperatures is investigated. The irradiation environments of air, vacuum and oxygen are considered. The decreasing loss in transmittance after irradiation follows the sequence: oxygen, air and vacuum. The UV cut-off and shoulder wavelengths of sPS irradiated in an air atmosphere are greater than those in vacuum. Two types of color centers are responsible for the reduction of transmittance in the irradiated specimen. They are annealable and permanent. A first order annihilation model is proposed to analyze the annealable color centers. The results show that the annealable color center of sPS irradiated in vacuum required to overcome less energy barrier to annihilate than that in air, but the permanent color centers in the former is less than those in the latter after annealing. No annealable color center is observed in sPS irradiated in an oxygen atmosphere. The EPR spectra and FTIR spectra were also studied to enhance the understanding of kinetics of color center.     

Modelling low-temperature carbonisation of solid fuels in a heated rotary kiln for clean fuel production

A numerical simulation of the physico-chemical processes occurring inside a heated rotary kiln reactor, where coal, lignite or biomass are treated in vacuum for the production of clean solid fuel, has been performed with FLUENT6 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code. The model accounts for the rotation of the kiln walls and mixing blades, multiphase flow modelling of the solid (fuel) and gaseous (mixture of gases) phases, heat transfer between phases and the heated kiln walls and mass transfer due to chemical reaction between species of different (heterogeneous) phases. The objective is to contribute towards a reliable numerical methodology as a design tool with reference to the fuel feed properties (e.g. solids size, volatile, carbon and moisture content, feed rate) and process requirements (e.g. desired residence time). Kiln wall erosion is also assessed.     

A coupled DEM/CFD analysis of the effect of air on powder flow during die filling

Die filling from a stationary shoe in a vacuum and in the presence of air was numerically analyzed using an Eulerian‐Lagrangian model, which employs a discrete element method (DEM) for the particles and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for the air with a two‐way air‐particle interaction coupling term. Monodisperse and polydisperse powder systems have been simulated to explore the effect of the presence of air on the die filling process. For die filling with monodisperse powders, the influences of particle size and density on the flow behavior were explored. The numerical simulations revealed that the presence of air has a significant impact on the powder flow behavior, especially for systems with smaller and/or lighter particles. Flow has been characterized in terms of a dimensionless mass flow rate, and it has been shown that for die filling in a vacuum this is constant. The flow characteristics for die filling in air can be classified into two regimes. There is an air‐inert regime in which the particle size and density are sufficiently large that the effect of air flow becomes negligible, and the dimensionless mass flow rate is essentially identical to that obtained for die filling in a vacuum. There is also an air‐sensitive regime, for smaller particle sizes and lower particle densities, in which the dimensionless mass flow rate increases as the particle size and density increase. The effects of particle‐size distribution and adhesion on the flow behavior have also been investigated. It was found that, in a vacuum, the dimensionless mass flow rate for polydisperse systems is nearly identical to that for monodisperse systems. In the presence of air, a lower dimensionless mass flow rate is obtained for polydisperse systems compared to monodisperse systems, demonstrating that air effects become more significant. Furthermore, it has been shown that, as expected, the dimensionless mass flow rate decreases as the surface energy increases (i.e., for more cohesive powders). © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

Optimization of Kiln Drying for Softwood through Simulation of Wood Stack Drying,Energy Use,and Wood Color Change

An integrated modeling system was developed to simulate the drying processing, energy use, and wood color change in kiln drying of softwood timber. The model has been applied for a temperature range from 50 to 70°C and an airspeed from 3 to 9 m/s. The model is based on theoretical analysis and contains components such as kiln configuration and practical operations. From the model simulation, optimized drying schedules for minimizing color change and energy use are recommended with dry bulb temperature of 60 to 70°C and wet bulb depression of 15 to 20°C.     

Optimization of Kiln Drying for Softwood through Simulation of Wood Stack Drying, Energy Use, and Wood Color Change

An integrated modeling system was developed to simulate the drying processing, energy use, and wood color change in kiln drying of softwood timber. The model has been applied for a temperature range from 50 to 70°C and an airspeed from 3 to 9 m/s. The model is based on theoretical analysis and contains components such as kiln configuration and practical operations. From the model simulation, optimized drying schedules for minimizing color change and energy use are recommended with dry bulb temperature of 60 to 70°C and wet bulb depression of 15 to 20°C.