BIOLOGICAL DRYERS IMPROVE PERFORMANCE/ECONOMICS OF BIOMASS PROJECTS

摘要

Greater use of biomass for power generation is often constrained by the high moisture content of these fuels. As water content increases, heating value drops, hampering the economics of the biomass utilization. Dryers can be used, but most traditional dryer designs require a large amount of energy to dry the biomass and are expensive to maintain and operate. As a result, much of the organic waste from industrial processes, agriculture, municipal solid waste and sewage sludge (i.e. biosolids), and farming typically end up as landfill or soil amendment. "Drying the biomass or organic waste to 15 to 20 percent moisture content or less would improve the performance and economics of energy-based applications," says Russ Blades, vice president of Wright Tech Systems Inc. "Drier biomass has a greater heating value and burns hotter, more vigorously and more efficiently."