Application of solar energy to industrial drying or dehydration processes. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Mar 17 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6437557· OSTI ID:6437557

The application of a solar energy system to the Lawrence, Kansas alfalfa dehydration plant, owned by the Western Alfalfa Corporation, is an attractive opportunity to demonstrate the feasibility of using solar energy to supply industrial process heat. The work undertaken for this project is reviewed. The design parameters of the dehydrator, including the energy consumed by the plant, the airflow requirements of the dehydrator, and the interface between the dehydrator and the solar array are discussed. The design of the collector array, the selection of solar collectors, the calculation of collector areas for the array, and the simulations of the system performance are addressed. Discussions of the detailed engineering drawings and specifications of the array construction, duct work, air handling equipment, system controls, and data monitoring, and acquisition systems are presented. The results of the contractors' bids based on these drawings and specifications are given. An economic analysis of the solar system using the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory format is presented. Finally, the impact of the solar system on the process energy requirements and on the operation of the plant are discussed. (WHK)

• Research Organization: Midwest Research Inst., Kansas City, MO (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6437557
• Report Number(s): ORO-5121-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140300 -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
140905*
AIR HEATERS
ALFALFA
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
DEHYDRATION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
DRYERS
DRYING
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY DEMAND
FABRICATION
FURNACES
HEAT
HEATERS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
KANSAS
LEGUMINOSAE
MIDWEST REGION
MOLDING
NORTH AMERICA
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
PELLETIZING
PERFORMANCE
PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
SIMULATION
SOLAR AIR HEATERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR DRYERS
SOLAR DRYING
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
SPECIFICATIONS
USA