Energy balance drier

Since a large portion of a feedstock s equivalent energy content can be expended for drying, there is a balance between the cost of moisture removal, the incremental improvement in efficiency on conversion, and the advantages of handling drier feedstock. The key biomass property that should obviously be examined, in addition to conversion process requirements, is the moisture content of the fresh biomass, the methods available for its partial or total removal, and the effects, if any, on the properties of the remaining biomass. The moisture content of biomass is as variable as the multitude of biomass species available as potential feedstocks. 

Because reaction is confined in such a small space, the heat balance of the process is generally improved as well. In that much of the water is vaporized in the reactor itself by the heat of reaction, product leaving the granulator is much drier and energy consumption for drying can be reduced. The main advantages of the pipe-reactor process, compared with the preneutralizer process, can be summarized as follows [14] ... 

---