DRUM DRYING OF FABRICS

Abstract

A study of drying of textile fabrics on a drum heated by natural gas burner is presented. In the first stage of study, the distribution of the heat flux over the outer surface of the drum is calculated by an analytical method. In the second stage, this heat flux is entered in a numerical code able to simulate the heat and mass transfers in porous media. The simulation results validate the analytical model assumptions. Special attention is paid to the contact resistance between the drum and the fabric.     

Control of Sludge-to-Wall Adhesion by Applying a Polarized Electric Field

An application of a polarized electric field to reduce adhesion of a biological sludge to the dryer wall was studied experimentally by contact drying of a sludge cake deposited on a heated metal plate serving as the cathode. It was found that the adhesion intensity is greatly reduced due to a water layer formed at the heated plate, when a fraction of water in the sludge migrates to the cathode by electro-osmosis, as well as by gas bubbles, which are generated by the electrochemical reaction. The voltage gradient from 4 to 5 V/cm was found optimal for drying 10-mm-thick sludge samples. Under these conditions, the electric energy consumption amounted to 3.87 kWh/t. An increase in cathode temperature reduced the sludge-adhering intensity and shortened drying time. The beneficial effect of an electric field on reducing sludge adherence decreases with increasing wall temperature.     

Control of Sludge-to-Wall Adhesion by Applying a Polarized Electric Field

An application of a polarized electric field to reduce adhesion of a biological sludge to the dryer wall was studied experimentally by contact drying of a sludge cake deposited on a heated metal plate serving as the cathode. It was found that the adhesion intensity is greatly reduced due to a water layer formed at the heated plate, when a fraction of water in the sludge migrates to the cathode by electro-osmosis, as well as by gas bubbles, which are generated by the electrochemical reaction. The voltage gradient from 4 to 5 V/cm was found optimal for drying 10-mm-thick sludge samples. Under these conditions, the electric energy consumption amounted to 3.87 kWh/t. An increase in cathode temperature reduced the sludge-adhering intensity and shortened drying time. The beneficial effect of an electric field on reducing sludge adherence decreases with increasing wall temperature.     

HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER DURING DRYING OF GRANULAR PRODUCTS BY COMBINED CONVECTION AND CONDUCTION

Numerical simulation of grain drying in a vertical cylindrical bed has been carried out with an imposed hot air flow and a conductive heat flux at the wall.

The model equations are numerically solved using a finite volume method. The numerical simulation gives the time and space evolution of temperature when the lateral area of the cylinder is heated by a constant density flux and a constant temperature. The influence of different parameters (essentially the ratio of heat flux to the heat capacity of flow, and the dryer geometry) on the relative moisture content and the drying time is examined.     

HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER DURING DRYING OF GRANULAR PRODUCTS BY COMBINED CONVECTION AND CONDUCTION

Abstract

Numerical simulation of grain drying in a vertical cylindrical bed has been carried out with an imposed hot air flow and a conductive heat flux at the wall.

The model equations are numerically solved using a finite volume method. The numerical simulation gives the time and space evolution of temperature when the lateral area of the cylinder is heated by a constant density flux and a constant temperature. The influence of different parameters (essentially the ratio of heat flux to the heat capacity of flow, and the dryer geometry) on the relative moisture content and the drying time is examined.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Agitated Contact Drying of Sewage Sludge under Partial Vacuum Conditions

Agitated contact drying experiments were carried out in a cylindrical lab-scale paddle dryer to study the drying kinetics of sewage sludge under partial vacuum conditions. To explore the drying mechanisms, the penetration model for vacuum contact drying of agitated particulate materials, developed by Schlünder and Mollekopf, was applied to simulate the experimental results. The influence of the drying parameters (system pressure, heating temperature, stirrer speed, and dryer load) on the drying kinetics was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The results indicate that pressure and temperature significantly influence the drying rates of sewage sludge, whereas stirring speed and dryer load have no obvious effects on drying rates in the examined range. The experimental and simulated drying rates were in acceptable agreement as long as the temperature difference between dryer and sludge was small. A crust is likely to form on the dryer surface, however, when the temperature difference becomes large; this crust leads to markedly lower drying rates than the calculated ones. Furthermore, a comparison between partial vacuum contact drying and atmospheric contact drying is presented. The results indicate that the mass transfer resistance increases with rising drying potential in the examined experimental range.     

HEAT, MOMENTUM, AND MASS TRANSFER MEASUREMENTS IN INDIRECT AGITATED SLUDGE DRYER

Whereas indirect agitated drying has been extensively studied for granular materials, little is known in the case of pasty products. We describe an experimental set up specially designed for the investigation of drying kinetics, of heat transfer coefficient evolution, and of the mechanical torque necessary for stirring. This device was applied to municipal sewage sludge. Preliminary experiments were performed to investigate the influence of ageing of sludge on the drying kinetics. It appears that ageing does have no effect except for the first two days. The influences of the wall temperature, the stirrer speed, the dryer load and the location of the stirrer against the heated wall were studied. Three different rheological behaviors were observed during sludge drying. In particular, the sludge goes through a “glue” phase, and high levels of mechanical strain are recorded when the compact mass begins to break up. A critical stirrer speed is found within the range 40-60 rpm. To shorten the drying time, it seems better to adjust the wall temperature in accordance with the moisture content of the sludge.     

HEAT,MOMENTUM, AND MASS TRANSFER MEASUREMENTS IN INDIRECT AGITATED SLUDGE DRYER

ABSTRACT

Whereas indirect agitated drying has been extensively studied for granular materials, little is known in the case of pasty products. We describe an experimental set up specially designed for the investigation of drying kinetics, of heat transfer coefficient evolution, and of the mechanical torque necessary for stirring. This device was applied to municipal sewage sludge. Preliminary experiments were performed to investigate the influence of ageing of sludge on the drying kinetics. It appears that ageing does have no effect except for the first two days. The influences of the wall temperature, the stirrer speed, the dryer load and the location of the stirrer against the heated wall were studied. Three different rheological behaviors were observed during sludge drying. In particular, the sludge goes through a “glue” phase, and high levels of mechanical strain are recorded when the compact mass begins to break up. A critical stirrer speed is found within the range 40–60 rpm. To shorten the drying time, it seems better to adjust the wall temperature in accordance with the moisture content of the sludge.     

New narrow tube spray dryer for precise drying history control

Of all the operating conditions in a spray dryer, temperature of the drying medium holds the key parameter in affecting the degree of crystallinity in spray-dried particles. Previous experiments only focus on controlling the drying temperature at the inlet or outlet of drying chamber to delineate the drying history of particles, precluding any detailed studies on particle development throughout the drying duration. Hence, the objective of this work is to address the current limitation by introducing a modified narrow tube spray dryer which enables in situ control of drying history. Essentially, the drying chamber consists of 10 narrow copper tubes with an internal diameter of 1.7?cm. Each individual copper tube can be heated independently to create a unique controlled drying history. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrate the significant impact of drying history on lactose morphology with possible crystallization by even slight variations in the drying history, which further accentuates the sensitivity of degree of crystallization to temperature. With this newly developed equipment, the detailed drying history conditions can be designed and manipulated to engineer the desired particle properties.     

Method for Thermal Design of Paddle Dryers: Application to Municipal Sewage Sludge

An experimental methodology was developed to improve the energy design of paddle dryers for sewage sludges. A laboratory batch dryer with a vertical agitator has been especially designed and instrumented to determine the heat flux densities. To determine the drying kinetic and the evaporation rates, the specific heat and the total heat of desorption of the sludge were measured using calorimetric devices. The evaporating flow rates recorded during the pasty and granular phases were then used in a simple model of the paddle dryer. The good agreement between the computed drying kinetics and the experimental ones measured in an industrial paddle dryer shows that the batch dryer can be used to classify the sludges according to their capacity to be dried in a paddle dryer.     

Liming Pretreatment Reduces Sludge Build-Up on the Dryer Wall during Thermal Drying

In the course of sludge thermal drying, the sludge that sticks to the heated surfaces of drying equipment causes deterioration of drying efficiency and safety. The ability of alkaline pretreatment to reduce sludge build-up on dryer walls during convective drying processes was investigated. The sludge build-up was measured as the residual mass on an iron plate after parts of the sludge were scraped off the plate; the device used simulated the scraping process in drying equipment. The results showed that the sludge build-up on the plate increased at first and then decreased as the sludge water content decreased during thermal drying. The maximum amount of sludge build-up occurred when the sludge water content was about 55–60%. Liming pretreatment enhanced sludge cohesion, hydrolyzed adhesive organic substances, increased the inorganic mineral content of the sludge and, accordingly, reduced sludge build-up. When the dose of Ca(OH)₂ was 5% of dry solids (5% DS), the sludge build-up was almost negligible and the average drying rate improved by about 30%. CaO pretreatment was also very effective in preventing sludge build-up, but its effect on the sludge drying rate was not obvious at the same dosage. Compared with Ca(OH)₂ and CaO, NaOH did not reduce sludge build-up effectively or improve the sludge drying rate.     

Method for Thermal Design of Paddle Dryers: Application to Municipal Sewage Sludge

Abstract

An experimental methodology was developed to improve the energy design of paddle dryers for sewage sludges. A laboratory batch dryer with a vertical agitator has been especially designed and instrumented to determine the heat flux densities. To determine the drying kinetic and the evaporation rates, the specific heat and the total heat of desorption of the sludge were measured using calorimetric devices. The evaporating flow rates recorded during the pasty and granular phases were then used in a simple model of the paddle dryer. The good agreement between the computed drying kinetics and the experimental ones measured in an industrial paddle dryer shows that the batch dryer can be used to classify the sludges according to their capacity to be dried in a paddle dryer.     

FLIGHT DESIGN I N ROTARY DRYERS

The effectiveness of the rotary drum drying process depends primarily on the contact between the cascading particles and the drying gases within the drum. This paper considers first the factors which contribute to the cascade pattern and which influence the design of the lifting flights which distribute the particles in the top half of the drum. A generalised calculation design procedure for flights is developed and described in detail for the case of Equal Horizontal Distribution (EHD) flights. It is reasoned that the EHD flights, which have an equal distribution of particles across the horizontal diameter of the rotary drum dryer, give the optimum distribution in the context of the heat and mass transfer operations of the rotary drying process. An industrial design which approximates the optimum flight design is suggested.     

INDIRECT THERMAL DRYING OF LIGNITE: DESIGN ASPECTS OF A ROTARY DRYER

An investigation of the thermal drying of lignite has been carried out, by using an indirect heat pilot rotary drum. The process aims at the production of dry lignite and clean steam as part of a gasification procedure. Both flighted and bare drum modes have been employed. Temperature profiles along the dryer length, the amount of evaporation (moisture conversion) and the solids residence time distribution (RTD) were measured. A non-isothermal model was tested under three different regimes of solids flow. Model integration, by taking account of experimental amount of evaporation at dryer exit and temperature profiles along the dryer length, has been utilized in the validation of drying kinetics and heat transfer correlations. Model predictions compare satisfactorily with the operating data of an indirect heat industrial lignite dryer. Overall heat transfer coefficients of the pilot rotary dryer were found to agree well with those reported for direct heat dryers.     

污泥间接干燥过程的实验研究

污泥间接干燥是以热传导为传热方式的干燥过程。采用楔形桨叶式干燥机进行污泥干燥实验,研究了污泥的间接干燥过程,测得了污泥在干燥机不同位置的温度及其相应的含水率,验证了污泥的间接干燥过程遵循预热阶段、恒速干燥阶段和降速干燥阶段的一般规律,获得了不同转速下污泥干燥过程的平均传热系数,且平均传热系数随着搅拌转速的提高而增大。     

INDIRECT THERMAL DRYING OF LIGNITE: DESIGN ASPECTS OF A ROTARY DRYER

ABSTRACT

An investigation of the thermal drying of lignite has been carried out, by using an indirect heat pilot rotary drum. The process aims at the production of dry lignite and clean steam as part of a gasification procedure. Both flighted and bare drum modes have been employed. Temperature profiles along the dryer length, the amount of evaporation (moisture conversion) and the solids residence time distribution (RTD) were measured. A non-isothermal model was tested under three different regimes of solids flow. Model integration, by taking account of experimental amount of evaporation at dryer exit and temperature profiles along the dryer length, has been utilized in the validation of drying kinetics and heat transfer correlations. Model predictions compare satisfactorily with the operating data of an indirect heat industrial lignite dryer. Overall heat transfer coefficients of the pilot rotary dryer were found to agree well with those reported for direct heat dryers.     

A Diffusion Model for a Drum Dryer Subjected to Conduction, Convection, and Radiant Heat Input

Drum dryers are commonly used for production of a flaky dry powder from thick suspensions. This article presents results of a simple diffusion-based model to predict the drying performance of a pilot-scale twin-drum dryer. Numerical results are compared with experimental data obtained for a biological sludge whose initial moisture content varied from 1.0 to 2.3 kg/kg db. The agreement of model predictions with the pilot-scale experimental data is favorable. Effects of film thickness, drum rotational speed, external air flow velocity, and its humidity are examined parametrically. Sludge film thickness is identified as the most critical operating parameter to control the final moisture content and productivity of the dryer. The validated model is used to predict performance of a drum dryer subjected to heat input by convection and radiation along with conduction through the drum wall. It is shown that dryer output can be enhanced significantly by increasing the film thickness and applying radiant heating in the initial period of drying. A simple mathematical model of this type can be used for the purpose of design and analysis as well as scale-up of industrial drum dryers based on simple laboratory-scale experiments.     

FLIGHT DESIGN I N ROTARY DRYERS

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of the rotary drum drying process depends primarily on the contact between the cascading particles and the drying gases within the drum. This paper considers first the factors which contribute to the cascade pattern and which influence the design of the lifting flights which distribute the particles in the top half of the drum. A generalised calculation design procedure for flights is developed and described in detail for the case of Equal Horizontal Distribution (EHD) flights. It is reasoned that the EHD flights, which have an equal distribution of particles across the horizontal diameter of the rotary drum dryer, give the optimum distribution in the context of the heat and mass transfer operations of the rotary drying process. An industrial design which approximates the optimum flight design is suggested.     

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF INDIRECT CONTACT ROTARY DRTHRS

Two different approaches were used to predict the solid moisture content and solid temperature profiles along a continuous indirect contact rotary dryer heated with steam tubes. One of these uses heat and mass balances applied to the solid phase in a differential element of dryer length. Here the heat flux is computed through an overall heat transfer coefficient assumed constant. The other model is based on a previous work that calculates the heat transfer coefficient as a function of the time the solid particles are in contact with the heating surface. The advantage in using this second model lies in the fact that the calculated heat transfer coefficient can take into account the effects of the operational conditions. If this coefficient has a strong dependence on these conditions, then it would be inappropriate to use a fixed value. Although both approaches can predict the solid moisture content and temperature profiles along the dryer differences were detected.