Process simulation of activated carbon production using a rotary kiln

Abstract

The rotary kiln used for the activation of charcoal is simulated using mass and energy balances to obtain the temperature distributions of environmental gas and solid in the kiln. The computed results are used to find the optimal operation condition. In finding the optimal gas temperature for the reductive gas environment necessary to the charcoal activation, the outcome gives the amount of fuel required and the effects of other operational variables, such as feed and steam rates. While the fuel and feed rates give large variation of gas and solid temperatures, the activation steam and moisture and volatile contents in feed do not affect the temperatures significantly. It was found that the temperature distribution has a similar pattern to that of coal pyrolysis because of the similarity of heat transfer mechanism.