Abstract
Energy consumption performance evaluation of an industrial grain dryer is an essential step to check its current status and to put forward suggestions for more effective operation. The present work proposed a combined IRCC dryer with drying capacity of 4.2 t/h that uses a novel drying technology. Moreover, the existing energy–exergy methodology was applied to evaluate the performance of the dryer on the basis of energy efficiency, heat loss characteristics, energy recovery, exergy flow and exegetic efficiency. The results demonstrated that the average drying rate of the present drying system was 1.1 gwater/gwet matter h. The energy efficiency of the whole drying system varied from 2.16% to 35.21% during the drying process. The overall recovered radiant energy and the average radiant exergy rate were 674,339.3 kJ and 3.54 kW, respectively. However, the average heat-loss rate of 3145.26 MJ/h indicated that measures should be put in place to improve its performance. Concerning the exergy aspect, the average exergy rate for dehydration was 462 kW and the exergy efficiency of the whole drying system ranged from 5.16% to 38.21%. Additionally, the exergy analysis of the components indicated that the combustion chamber should be primarily optimized among the whole drying system. The main conclusions of the present work may provide theoretical basis for the optimum design of the industrial drying process from the viewpoint of energetics.
Highlights
Drying is a complicated thermodynamic process containing heat and mass transfer between the external constraints and inherent properties, which leads to the decrease of the moisture content of agricultural products or industrial material to a safe storage grade or to a grade appropriate for commercial use [1,2,3]
For the drying chamber (DC), the energy consumption the energy consumption in the inlet air, the induced fan and the recover radiant energy were in the inlet air, the induced fan and the recover radiant energy were studied, and the results indicated studied, and the results indicated that the energy consumption in Eai, Eif and Efir, respectively, that the energy consumption in Eai, Eif and Efir, respectively, account for 91.66%, 5.86% and 2.47% of account for 91.66%, 5.86% and 2.47% of the total in the DC
The key key findings findings according according to the results of the combined IRCC
Summary
Drying is a complicated thermodynamic process containing heat and mass transfer between the external constraints and inherent properties, which leads to the decrease of the moisture content of agricultural products or industrial material to a safe storage grade or to a grade appropriate for commercial use [1,2,3]. Due to the negative conditions such as the high latent heat of water evaporation and the relatively low efficiency of dryers, drying is a highly energy intensive operation that is an unneglected factor raising environmental concerns [4]. Corn drying is a high-energy-consumption process that is very susceptible to the quality of processed corn. Investigators have conducted many studies of new drying equipment and techniques for the purpose of decreasing the energy consumption of the process and improving quality of product [6,7,8,9,10]. Xie et al [11] conducted in-depth explorations into the application of radio frequency-hot air drying technology on corn kernels in 2020 and found that a
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
