TITLE:
Fluidized Bed Superheated Steam Dryer for Bagasse: Effects of Particle Size Distribution
AUTHORS:
Luz Stella Polanco, Vadim Kochergin, Jose F. Alvarez
KEYWORDS:
Biomass; Bagasse Drying; Particle Size; Fluidized Bed
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
6,
2013
ABSTRACT: Fluidized bed superheated
steam drying is one of the technologies successfully
applied to drying pulp in the sugar beet industry. It has the technological
advantages of energy efficiency and safety (inert environment) required for use
in drying bagasse. A comparison of the particle size distribution of bagasse
and beet pulp was evaluated in terms of fluidization. The size distribution of
bagasse particles is from 2 to 10 times broader than the equivalent
distribution of beet pulp particles. The mean particle size of the bagasse is
1/3 of the mean size of the beet pulp. Fluidization tests proved that bagasse
fluidization is possible. It was found that beet pulp and bagasse particles
clearly differ on shape and size distribution which in turn will affect the
design of the ancillary equipment and the fluidization systems if sugarcane
bagasse is to be dried using superheated steam technology.