Temperature Field Simulation and Energy Analysis of a Heat Pump Tobacco Bulk Curing Barn

Abstract

Recently, heat pump drying has been widely used in tobacco processing. Considering the importance of this issue, it is of significant importance to further investigate temperature distribution and energy analysis in the drying process. To develop an energy-saving, environmental-friendly, and high-quality tobacco drying method, temperature distribution, dehumidification performance, the economic issues, and thermal efficiency of a heat pump curing barn (HPCB) and a traditional coal-fired bulk curing barn (TCCB) were compared. The regional temperature eigenvalue model was applied to describe the temperature uniformity with HPCB and TCCB. Moreover, thermal efficiency was obtained through energy tests. The obtained results showed that HPCB is beneficial to improve the drying quality of tobacco. The performed analyses showed that the thermal efficiency of the TCCB and HPCB was 42.02% and 66.53%, respectively. Accordingly, heat pump technology is recommended for industrial drying of tobacco leaves and obtaining high-quality products.

Based on metabolomics, the optimum wind speed process parameters of flue-cured tobacco in heat pump bulk curing barn were explored

“…After screening the parameters of the fan in each stage of baking, a verification test was carried out, and two groups were established. One group used the variable frequency fan, and the selected fan parameters were recorded as T 1 ; the other group used the current two-speed fan according to the wind speed change of the three-stage baking process (low-speed fan was used in the yellowing period, high-speed fan was used in the color fixing period, and low-speed fan was used in the drying period) 26,27 , recorded as CK.…”