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Title: Preheating of Cold, High Moisture Particulate Biomaterials to Reduce Drying Time

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1922506· OSTI ID:1922506
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Forest Concepts, LLC, Auburn, WA (United States)
  2. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)

Forest Concepts led a two-year project to reduce fossil fuel consumption and improve the energy efficiency of dryers through the application of radio frequency (RF) energy impartation to preheat cold-wet bulk particulate biomass materials. A comprehensive biomass heating and drying mathematical model was developed that enables simulation of drying systems for biomass as well as most other bulk porous particulate materials. Experimental and modeling results conclude that energy consumption for both RF preheating and hot-air preheating are essentially equal for cold, high-moisture feedstocks that are above fiber saturation and therefore not economically beneficial for those conditions. Further results suggest that RF heating may have a direct energy consumption benefit in the late stages of drying and in case of preheating biomass that has a moisture content below fiber saturation. This work was funded in part by the US Department of Energy under contact DE-EE0009130.

Research Organization:
Forest Concepts, LLC, Auburn, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
DOE Contract Number:
EE0009130
OSTI ID:
1922506
Report Number(s):
DOE-FC-09130-01
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English