Abstract
Large amounts of crop residue are produced annually in areas such as Almeria (Spain). These residues have elevated moisture and ash contents, and are also very heterogeneous, which hinders their reutilization. With the aim of facilitating biomass utilization in energy recovery-related processes, a model for solar drying was developed. Experiments were performed inside a greenhouse with tomato and pepper residues, following two strategies (hung or stacked residues). The influence of temperature and relative humidity on the residues’ equilibrium moisture was also studied. The results were that a model allowed for determination of the equilibrium moisture as a function of ambient conditions (temperature and relative humidity), with the model’s characteristic parameters being different for each crop residue. Regarding the drying process, the results conform to first-order kinetics, with the values of the kinetic constants varying as a function of the crop residues and their arrangement. The variation in equilibrium moisture as a function of the annual variation in ambient conditions (temperature and relative humidity) in Almería means that it would only be possible to dry crop residues inside greenhouse below a moisture level of 0.43 kgwater/kgdrysolids (30% water content) from April to November.
Highlights
The production of crop residues is directly linked to agricultural food production; these residues are left over following harvesting activities, but are generated by grass, trees, shrubs, and road maintenance.Crop residues can include residual matter from grass cutting, tree pruning, and non-productive plantations.Each crop residue has different characteristics that will determine the most appropriate way to manage it
Tomato crop residues came from bunch tomato plantations, while pepper residues came from Italian peppers; both crops have a long cycle with the plantations harvested throughout the months of April and May
The results show that the equilibrium moisture is quite similar for both the crop relative humidity conditions (Table 1)
Summary
The production of crop residues is directly linked to agricultural food production; these residues are left over following harvesting activities, but are generated by grass, trees, shrubs, and road maintenance.Crop residues can include residual matter from grass cutting, tree pruning, and non-productive plantations.Each crop residue has different characteristics that will determine the most appropriate way to manage it. The production of crop residues is directly linked to agricultural food production; these residues are left over following harvesting activities, but are generated by grass, trees, shrubs, and road maintenance. Crop residues can include residual matter from grass cutting, tree pruning, and non-productive plantations. Each crop residue has different characteristics that will determine the most appropriate way to manage it. Crop residue management is continually improving, in an effort to ensure the lowest possible environmental, social, and economic impact, coupled with the best possible recovery for each type of residue [1]. In Spain alone, more than 700,000 tonnes of crop residues are managed annually, only a minor part of which are incinerated or dumped as waste [2]. More than 90% of crop residues are managed; utilized as biofuels in different processes, such as combustion, pyrolysis, or gasification (amongst others); or composted and recycled
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
