Fixed Bed Drying of Sugarcane Bagasse Using Solar Energy

Abstract

Solar energy is one of the most promising options for renewable energy and biomass is one of them. One of the main biomass sources, sugarcane bagasse, is produced annually in more than hundreds of nations worldwide exceeding 4.25 billion tons. To dry a 900-mm deep fixed bed of wet sugarcane bagasse, a solar air heater with a collector area of 2 m 2 was installed. Between October 10 th to 19 th in Gwangju, South Korea, a 9-day drying period, the solar collector received a total of 496,145 kJ of solar radiation. During this time, 54.5 kg of water was extracted from 133 kg of wet sugarcane bagasse (average green moisture content of 47.6%w.b.). The estimated net heat from the evaporation of water removed during the dying period accounted for approximately 27% of the total solar radiation on the solar collector.