Heat recovery from biomass drying in energy systems

Abstract

This paper deals with energy savings by the heat recovery of waste vapour from moist biomass drying in energy systems. Drying is an energy-intensive process. Energy consumption can be reduced by using indirect drying by recuperating the heat of waste vapour generated in the process; however the vapour is polluted by air and small mechanical particles. Experiments with green wood chips were realized on an indirect dryer with a condensing heat exchanger to experimentally verify the grade and conditions of heat recovery from waste vapour. On the basis of the experimental results, the potential of the heat recovery from waste vapour was evaluated. Keywords: Indirect drying; Biomass; Waste vapour; Heat recovery