Experimental Study of the Fry-Drying Phenomena of Organic Wastes in Hot Oil for Waste-Derived Solid Fuel

Abstract

In sludge treatment, drying sludge using typical technology with high water content to a water content of approximately 10% is always difficult because of adhesive characteristics of sludge in drying. Many methods have been applied, including direct and indirect heat drying, but these approaches of reducing water content to below 40% after drying are very inefficient in energy utilization of drying sludge. In this study, fry-drying technology with a high heat transfer coefficient of approximately 500 W/m 2 ·° C was used to dry swine excreta, sewage and industrial sludge. Also waste oil was used in the fry-drying process, and because the oil’s boiling point is between 240 ° C and 340 ° C and the specific heat is approximately 60% of that of water. In the fry-drying system, the sludge is input by molding it into a designated form after heating the waste oil at temperatures between 130°C and 150°C. At these temperatures, the heated oil rapidly evaporates the water contained in the sludge, leaving the oil itself. After approximately 8 - 10 min, the water content of the sludge was less than 10%, and its heating value surpassed 20,000 kJ/kg. Indeed, this makes the organic sludge appropriate for use as a solid fuel. The dried swine excreta, sewage and industrial sludge can be used in an incinerator like low-rank coal or solid fuel.