(71f) Modeling of Process Intensification during Drying Including Conduction, Convection, and Auxiliary Energy Applications

Porous biomaterials such as paper, board and biocomposites continue to be important renewable bioproducts. Conventional drying processes used in manufacturing of majority of these bioproducts are based in conduction heat transfer from steam heated dryer cans and convective heat and mass transfer from air flowing over the surface of the paper in the pockets as they are being dried. The drying process, as in many process industries, is one of the major consumers of energy, especially fossil energy. Process intensification approaches to reducing energy consumption and decarbonization are of considerable interest. Fundamental understanding of the transport processes involved in conventional drying processes and the use of auxiliary energy applications in porous biomaterials can help us develop ways to reduce energy consumption and decarbonization of the drying process. Here we present the modeling and simulation of the various processes involved during drying and preliminary results from the heat and mass transfer and associated liquid, gas and energy fluxes during the drying process. The alternating conduction and convection processes used have unique implications on the fluid flow, heat and mass transfer that occurs during drying and opportunities for strategic application of auxiliary, volumetric drying technologies. This will help in better understanding of the drying processes and the assist in the development of novel drying processes.