TECHNOLOGICAL PROPOSAL FOR A MULTIPURPOSE INDUSTRIAL DRYER USING BIOGAS AT PLACETAS PIG GENETIC CENTER

Abstract

Introduction:
An opportunity for the local development of Placetas, a municipality in the central region of Cuba, is the use of biogas generated from the swine waste from its Genetic Center as an energy alternative for the drying of different materials available in the area.
Objective:
To present a technological proposal for a multipurpose dryer for grains, tubers, protein plants and organic fertilizer, using biogas generated from swine waste as an energy source.
Materials and Methods:
The physicochemical parameters of the streams involved were identified, appropriate technologies were selected, process demands were estimated, and a rotary dryer was designed using the high-temperature method.
Results and Discussion:
A direct drying scheme was selected in a rotary equipment, ensuring ease in the handling of non-adherent granular solids and using mixtures of air and gases from biogas combustion as an energetic alternative. The technological proposal allows the treatment of 300 kg/h of wet material. It satisfies the drying service provided to productive forms of the area and their own productive needs. For tubers and protein plants, according to their initial humidity, a semi-continuous drying scheme was proposed with two passes and a hopper for storage and recycling of the material. The rotary dryer requires 0.7 m in diameter and 3.0 m in length.
Conclusions:
The developed proposal satisfies the productive demands with safety, energy efficiency, productivity and sustainability, contributing to the reduction of environmental impact and to the increase of the technical-economic effectiveness.