Brown Coal Drying in a Fluidized Bed Applying a Low-Temperature Gaseous Medium

Abstract

Abstract This article contains results of an experimental study on the efficiency of the brown coal drying process in a fluidized bed conducted by means of warm air. It also presents results of a study on mathematical modelling of a fluidized bed of different dryer construction. The modelling results allowed for the determination of the optimal construction of the dryer (i.e., its shape and size), taking into consideration the intensity of mass and heat exchange. On the basis of the results of mathematical modelling research, the laboratorial fluidized bed dryer was constructed. Next, several experimental drying tests were carried out using two brown coals of different particle sizes and different air temperatures, one from the Belchatow mine and the other earthy coal from the Turow mine. Drying rates and energy consumption during drying were established on the basis of experimental results. Optimal parameters of drying due to minimal energy usage were then determined. Keywords: Brown coal dryingEnergy consumptionFluidized bed dryerNumerical modelling Notes Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/ldrt.