Convective drying of wastewater sludge: Introduction of shrinkage effect in mathematical modeling

in Drying Technology (2013), 31(6), 643-654

Convective drying of wastewater sludges: Influence of air temperature, superficial velocity, and humidity on the kinetics

in Drying Technology (2005), 23(8), 1667-1679

The influence of air temperature, velocity, and humidity during convective drying of two different sludges (A and B) is investigated through a 3 3 factorial design. For sludge A, a constant drying flux ... [more ▼]

The influence of air temperature, velocity, and humidity during convective drying of two different sludges (A and B) is investigated through a 3 3 factorial design. For sludge A, a constant drying flux period is observed, while sludge B is characterized by a long decreasing drying flux phase. A sensitivity analysis shows that temperature is the main operating parameter affecting the drying kinetics. Mass and heat transfer coefficients as well as water evaporation capacities are calculated from drying curves. Transfer coefficients are related to operating conditions through dimensionless relations. For both sludges, a linear relation is found between water evaporation capacity and the maximal measured drying flux. [less ▲]

Measurement of shrinkage and cracks associated to convective drying of soft materials by X-ray microtomography

in Drying Technology (2004), 22(7), 1695-1708

Traditionally, the measurement of shrinkage occurring during drying is performed by destructive or poorly accurate techniques such as volume displacement methods. Cracks detection and quantification are ... [more ▼]

Traditionally, the measurement of shrinkage occurring during drying is performed by destructive or poorly accurate techniques such as volume displacement methods. Cracks detection and quantification are realised either by destructive techniques or sophisticated but expensive nondestructive ones (NMR imaging). X-ray microtomography in combination with image analysis provides an accurate, nondestructive and easy to use technique to determine simultaneously shrinkage and crack extent. Results reported in this article concern drying of wastewater sludges whose management will become a real challenge in the years to come. These results show a clear relation between drying kinetics and crack development. This could be related to the development of internal diffusional limitations inducing moisture gradients and mechanical stresses leading to cracks formation. [less ▲]

Use of X-ray microtomography to follow the convective heat drying of wastewater sludges

in Drying Technology (2002), 20(4-5), 1053-1069

X-ray microtomography is proposed as a new tool to investigate the evolution of size, shape and texture of soft materials during a drying operation. This study is focused on the drying of mechanically ... [more ▼]

X-ray microtomography is proposed as a new tool to investigate the evolution of size, shape and texture of soft materials during a drying operation. This study is focused on the drying of mechanically dewatered sludges from a secondary wastewater treatment. The shrinkage phenomenon is shown to play a crucial role in the control of the drying process. The shrinkage curves are determined by analysing the shape and size of cross sectional microtomographic images of sludge extrudates at different levels of drying. The observation of drying and shrinkage curves allows us to determine 3 critical water content values, which define different drying zones where extragranular, intragranular or mixed limitations prevail. When drying is externally controlled. the decrease of the drying rate observed during experiments can be related to the reduction of the external area of the sample, i.e., to shrinkage. When drying is internally controlled, resistances inside the solid govern the process. Between these two extreme situations, the drying rate reduction is the result of both the external area decrease and the development of internal resistances limiting drying. A multizone model is proposed to describe quantitatively these observations. The analysis of the internal texture of the Sludge extrudates reveal, crack formation at the end of the drying process. The onset of crack formation is clearly related to the appearance of internal transfer limitations. i.e., humidity and temperature gradients inside the material. [less ▲]