Primary energy demand and energy costs of fixed-bed drying using the example of chamomile flowers. Issue 4 (11th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ziegler, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Drying technology. Volume 38:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 434
• Page End: 447
• Publication Date: 2020-03-11
• Subjects: Batch-type drying -- medicinal plants -- weather conditions -- heat pump -- efficiency analysis; Drying -- Periodicals; Desiccation; 660.28426
• DOI: 10.1080/07373937.2019.1580290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0737-3937

Abstract

Abstract: Energy use efficiency in the drying of medicinal and aromatic plants is largely determined by weather conditions and process parameters. While the former are beyond control, the latter can be optimized. In order to achieve such optimization, different energy supply variants, based on typical operating conditions of batch-type grate drying in Thuringia, Germany, were analyzed. It was found that partial air recirculation and integration of heat pumps allow substantial savings in primary energy. However, under the constraint of German energy prices, significant savings in energy costs can only be achieved if combined heat and power generation systems are applied at the same time.