Using solar dryers to dry clay bricks
- Univ. of Texas, El Paso, TX (United States). Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Experiments using a small-scale solar dryer have been performed to determine the effect of incorporating solar dryers in the pre-firing stage of clay brick production. A comparison of brick moisture content over time is presented for dry bricks that underwent additional drying either naturally through direct exposure, in convection ovens set at 65.6 C and 104 C, in the solar dryer, or sealed in plastic bags. The ambient temperature and relative humidity were monitored along with the solar dryer temperature. Results indicated the solar dryer removed from one to two percent more moisture than natural drying, but removed less moisture than did the ovens. A similar comparison of wet bricks naturally dried, oven dried, and placed in the solar dryer for periods of five and seven days is also presented. The solar dryer reduced the amount of time required for bricks to be dried to a specified moisture content and increased the amount of moisture removed for a given amount of time.
- OSTI ID:
- 438653
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9603117--; ISBN 0-7918-1765-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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