Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date (Issue Year)
2024
Journal Name
Energy 360
Abstract
Biomass fuels remain the primary cooking energy source in many developing regions, contributing to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Briquettes made from waste biomass are a sustainable alternative; however, their production is hindered by inefficient drying methods, such as open sun drying, which can take 5 to 7 days. This study evaluates the thermal and airflow performance of a solar tunnel dryer (STD) designed to accelerate drying times for charcoal briquettes under Mozambique's climatic conditions. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, temperature and airflow distributions were analyzed to optimize dryer performance. Moisture and temperature profiles of hexagonal briquettes with inner holes indicated effective drying, achieving uniform moisture reduction to 10 % from an initial 50 %. Drying time was projected based on simulated airflow and temperature conditions, showing a significant reduction compared to traditional methods. The STD, operating with air temperatures of 36.5 °C to 65 °C and velocities up to 33.5 m/s at a mass flow rate of 1.36 kg/s, demonstrated its potential to enhance briquette production efficiency while maintaining environmental sustainability. The findings underscore the viability of solar drying technology for biomass fuel processing.
Keywords
Charcoal briquette, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Open sun drying, Solar tunnel dryer
Rsif Scholar Name
Fauzia Argentina Guibunda
Thematic Area
Energy including Renewables
Africa Host University (AHU)
University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya
Funding Statement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) and extend their appreciation to the University of Nairobi, Kenya for its academic supervision. Special thanks to Northwestern University, USA for their laboratory and facilities, which made the computational simulations possible
Recommended Citation
Guibunda, F. A., Waita, S., Nyongesa, F. W., Snyder, G. J., & Chaciga, J. (2024). Optimizing biomass briquette drying: A computational fluid dynamics approach with a case study in Mozambique. Energy 360, 2, 100012. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERG.2024.100012