A model for predicting the performance and maximizing the drying efficiency of an innovative fountain bed dryer (Open Access)--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Sukunza, X., Rojcewicz, K., Martin, A., Bolaños, M., Tellabide, M., Olazar, M., . . . Oksiuta, Z. (2025). A model for predicting the performance and maximizing the drying efficiency of an innovative fountain bed dryer. Particuology, 102, 251-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2025.04.002

A model for predicting the performance and maximizing the drying efficiency of an innovative fountain bed dryer (Open Access)

Xabier Sukunza^a *, Konrad Rojcewicz^b *, Aimar Martin^a, Maider Bolaños^a, Mikel Tellabide ^a, Martin Olazar^a, Fabian Dajnowiec^c, Zbigniew Oksiuta ^b

a Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, PO Box 644, E48080, Bilbao, Spain
b Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45C street, 15-351, Bialystok, Poland
c Department of Process Engineering, Equipment and Food Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland

10.1016/j.partic.2025.04.002

Volume 102, July 2025, Pages 251-263

Received 21 February 2025, Revised 3 April 2025, Accepted 3 April 2025, Available online 11 April 2025, Version of Record 23 May 2025.

E-mail: xabier.sukunza@ehu.eus; krojcewicz@gmail.com

Highlights

• A model has been developed for predicting the performance of a fountain bed dryer.

• The model allows predicting the sawdust moisture content and the air properties.

• Influence of operating and geometric parameters has been ascertained.

• Cone angle has little effect on the dryer's performance.

• The most influential parameters are the air and exhaust gases flow rate.

Abstract

Tumble, rotary drum, belt and fluidized bed dryers are commonly used for the drying of biomass, but their energy consumption is high due to their low heat and mass transfer rates. Thus, fountain bed dryers have been proposed in the literature, which have proven effective in the drying of coarse and fine sawdust. Furthermore, dried sawdust is burned in a furnace, and the exhaust gases are fed in the fountain bed dryer to provide heat to both drying and preheating chambers. However, the influence of operating and geometric parameters on the performance of fountain bed dryer has not been ascertained to date. Accordingly, a mathematical model has been developed in this study, which solves the unsteady state mass and energy balances for the solid, exhaust gases and air. The exhaust gases flow rate is the most influential parameter, followed by the air flow rate, whereas the cone angle is the least influential one.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Mathematical modelling; Sawdust; Chips; Fountain dryer; Fountain bed; Pellet

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