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 industrial 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. A detailed representation of the coupled heat and mass transfer phenomena occurring in the porous materials during drying is provided, incorporating relevant physics such as free and bound water removal, capillary action, diffusion, pressure-driven flow of liquid, vapor and air, vaporization and condensation.
Here we present the modeling and simulation of the various processes involved during drying under varied boundary conditions including conduction, convection and volumetric drying via auxiliary energy applications. The modeling results are further compared with experimental data to evaluate the accuracy of the simulation and to gain a better understanding of the fundamental processes involved. Optimal integration of auxiliary energy technologies in conjunction with conventional processes are also explored. This will help in better understanding of the drying processes and assist in the development of novel drying processes.
