Design and Numerical Energetic Analysis of a Novel Semi-Automated Biomass-Powered Multipurpose Dryer
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Drying Chamber and Sample Temporal Temperature Regime Formulation
2.2. Biomass and System Energy and Efficiency
2.3. Temporal Evaporation Rate
2.4. Thermal Sensor Activation
3. Results and Discussions
4. Conclusions
- The incorporation of the sensor control mechanism was to ensure that, once there is an increase in thermal energy from the combustion of the biomass, a signal is passed to the temperature sensor module, which controls the system’s temperature and hence shuts down the heat supply at a predetermined temperature. This would help in monitoring and controlling the drying rate of the sample.
- The results of the simulation show that the peak temperature of the drying chamber and that of the sample was 67 °C and 56 °C, respectively, and the maximum temperature lag witnessed by the two regimes was 10 °C. The peak temperature removal rate of the sample was 0.0066 kg/h, while the sample attained 0.4 (40%) moisture concentration of its initial value; 90% mass content removal (10% remaining mass content) of the initial mass of the sample was achieved at the end of the simulation.
- The gross energy released and absorbed by the biomass and the drying sample was 120 kJ and 99.8 kJ, respectively (approximately 100 kJ), implying less energy loss; the peak energy efficiency of the biomass and the system based on the drying rate was 69.4% and 50%, respectively. Therefore, the biomass-powered multipurpose dryer, when incorporated with a sensor, is highly effective in achieving gradual and smooth drying with little or no thermophysical effect.
- This research was a design modification, mathematical modeling, and analysis of energy interaction within an existing system.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Ezurike, B.O.; Abid, M.; Ajah, S.A.; Okoronkwo, C.A.; Adun, H.; Nwawelu, U.N.; Bamisile, O.; Zaini, J.H. Design and Numerical Energetic Analysis of a Novel Semi-Automated Biomass-Powered Multipurpose Dryer. Sustainability 2023, 15, 6639. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086639
Ezurike BO, Abid M, Ajah SA, Okoronkwo CA, Adun H, Nwawelu UN, Bamisile O, Zaini JH. Design and Numerical Energetic Analysis of a Novel Semi-Automated Biomass-Powered Multipurpose Dryer. Sustainability. 2023; 15(8):6639. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086639
Chicago/Turabian StyleEzurike, Benjamin O., Muhammad Abid, Stephen A. Ajah, Chukwunenye A. Okoronkwo, Humphrey Adun, Udora N. Nwawelu, Olusola Bamisile, and Juliana Hj Zaini. 2023. "Design and Numerical Energetic Analysis of a Novel Semi-Automated Biomass-Powered Multipurpose Dryer" Sustainability 15, no. 8: 6639. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086639