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Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137

Global Colloquium in Recent Advancement and Effectual Researches in Engineering, Science and
Technology (RAEREST 2016)

Biodrying Process Efficiency: -Significance of Reactor Matrix

Height
Asha P Toma, Ajit Haridasb, Renu Pawelsc,*
a
Research Scholar, School of engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi-682022, Kerala, India. Email id:
ashaptom@gmail.com

b
Chief Scientist and Head, Process Engineering &Environmental Technology, National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology,
Thiruvananthapuram, 695018, Kerala, India.Email id: ajitharidas@niist.res.in

c
Associate Professor and Head, Civil Engineering Division, School of Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi-
682022,Kerala, India. email id: renupawels@gmail.com

Abstract

Waste to energy concept should become a reality to meet the critical issues faced by the solid waste management
system of developing nations. Energy oriented municipal solid waste conversion technologies have the potential to
reduce the bulk volume of the waste in addition to the refuse derived fuel production applications. In this scenario
biodrying process is found to be the best option, where biological heat energy is effectively channelized for drying
purpose so that the heavy moisture laden municipal solid waste is dried and its energy value is increased. This
technology seemed to be promising specially in the case of developing nations where the heavy moisture content of
the typical municipal solid waste is the major issue faced by the waste to energy conversion systems. In the present
case study the effect of increasing the reactor matrix height and the resulting changes in the biodrying process output
has been studied in a pilot scale biodrying reactor of 0.565 m3 capacity for a period of 10 days. Two case studies
were conducted on mixed municipal solid waste substrates with moisture content of 62.45 % and 66.4 %
respectively. The reactor matrix height of first case study was kept at1.65 m, while that is increased to 2.0 m in the
second case study. The constant air flow rate of 40 litre per minute was provided throughout the experiment for both
case studies. During the second case study an air evacuation test has also been conducted on the 4th and 5th day of
experiment to understand the temperature profile variations. Overall weight reduction of 26.32 % and 19.01 % along
with average moisture reduction of 24.26 % and 15.98 % has been achieved in the first and second case studies
Asha P Tom, Ajit Haridas, Renu Pawels

2212-0173 © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of RAEREST 2016
doi:10.1016/j.protcy.2016.08.240
 Asha P. Tom et al. / Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137 131

respectively in 10 days of reaction. The volume reduction and bulk density increase was the maximum in the second
case study with 43.5 % volume reduction and 53.01 % bulk density increase in achieved in 10 days of biodrying
reaction. Comparing to that a lesser result has been obtained in 10 days of experiment in the first case study with a
volume reduction of 35.1 % and bulk density increase of 27.58 %. Therefore increasing the reactor matrix height at
a constant air flow rate has affected the biodrying process efficiency in terms of weight reduction and moisture
reduction, but the volume reduction and bulk density increase were significant achievements.

Keywords: Biodrying; Reactor matrix height; Moisture content; Temperature; Weight; Volume; Bulk Density.
©© 2016
2015TheTheAuthors.
Authors.Published
Published by Elsevier
Elsevier Ltd.
Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of RAEREST 2016.
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of RAEREST 2016

*Corresponding author email id: renupawels@gmail.com, phone: +919446556494

1. Introduction
Biological drying is an auto-thermal process in which drying rates are augmented by biological heat
released during on-site decomposing of the organic matter. Therefore, it offers an interesting alternative for waste
management in terms of feasibility and cost. Biodrying leads to moisture reduction while maintaining the calorific
YDOXHRIWKHSURFHVVHGZDVWHVVRWKHZHWZDVWHLVWUDQVIHUUHGLQWRVROLGµIXHO¶WKDWFDQEHVWRUHGIRUWKHIXWXUHXVH
[1,2,3]. Landfill gas is approximately fourty to sixty percent methane (CH 4), with the remainder being mostly carbon
dioxide. In absence of collection and treatment, methane landfills emissions represent both, a potential explosion
hazard [4] and a strong environmental threat because CH 4 is a powerful greenhouse gas. Bio-drying is an
MBT(Mechanical Biological Treatment) approach that exploits the biological reactivity of the waste in order to
produce a material with an improved lower heating value due to the reduction in moisture. Either with or witout
some post-treatment, this material can be considered as a solid recovered fuel (SRF), which can be used for energy
production in industrial plants. The major advantages of bio-drying process are waste mass reduction, reduction of
CH4, CO2, SO2, NOx emission and dust emission from waste lanndfills into the atmosphere [5].
Biodrying of mixed municipal waste is researched in Europe [1,2,6]; as well as in Poland [7,8,9,10,11]. In
India no case studies have been reported in biodrying process and this study is innovative in the field of municipal
solid waste treatment system of the country. The water content of municipal solid waste is very important factor
affecting the combustion efficiency and hence in the waste to energy conversion processes [12]. Moisture loss of 50
% was reported in a lab scale study conducted on 240 dm3 reactor using the organic fraction of municipal solid waste
and plant structural material of high moisture content [11]. In biodrying process, about 63 % loss in the organic
fraction weight was accounted for since the bio-dried mass can be considered equal to 37 % of the percentage of the
organic component [13,14,15]. Initial Moisture content is known to be a critical parameter in the biodrying process
because it influences the biochemical reactions associated with microbial growth and the biodegradation of organic
matter during the process. Optimization of the biodrying process is essential since high temperature in biodrying
process will result in increased metabolic reactions of microbes, but the slow diffusion of oxygen in to the water film
surrounding micro-organisms decreases, whereas fast biodrying produced low biological stability [16]. The end
product of biodrying process has high energy value and hence can be used as a replacement of coal for thermal
energy generation [17,18]. In the present paper an innovative pilot scale biodrying reactor system was designed for
treating the mixed municipal solid waste of high moisture content. Two case studies were conducted on the designed
innovative biodrying reactor system to study the effect of increased reactor matrix height on biodrying process
efficiency. The various parameters considered for process analysis the present study included weight reduction,
detailed temperature profile formation along the reactor height, moisture reduction and bulk density increase.
132 Asha P. Tom et al. / Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Sample Preparation

The proportion by weight of different components of mixed municipal solid waste, selected for the two case
studies as well as the input parameters were shown in Table 1. The database of mixed municipal solid waste [19] has
been referred while selecting the proportion of various components. In the present case study the moisture content of
metals and inert materials were assumed to be negligible and hence not considered.

Table 1 Mixed municipal solid waste- Input Parameters

Component % By weight Input Parameters

case study-1 case study- 2 case study-1 case study-2
Organic 72 70 Moisture content 62.45 % 66.4 %
Paper 11 12 Bulk density 220.20 kg/m3 182.88 kg/m3
Textile 9 8 Filled height 1.65 m 2m
Plastic 8 10

In the first case and second case studies 167 kg and 172 kg of mixed municipal solid waste has been used as the
substrate. Moisture analyses for samples of individual components were carried out using oven drying method at
105 ºC (ASTMD 3173-87, 1989).

2.2. Biodrying Reactor Design

The schematic representation of the reactor is shown in Fig.1.The process air flow control was provided from the
digital control system that consisted of an air compressor followed by a digital mass flow controller (DGMFC)
[Sierra, USA]. Ari flow was kept a constant value of 40 liter per minute throughout the experiment period for the
two case studies. The process temperature monitoring was carried out by using eight numbers of temperature
sensing probes of Pt 100 (SAKS, India), placed at eight different locations along the height of the reactor unit at 30
cm intervals and the entire reactor unit kept on platform scale load cell of capacity 1000 kg (SAKS, so that
continuous monitoring of weight loss is possible. The humidity transmitters (Kimo, France) were used to measure
the relative humidity of the inflow as well as the exhaust air and the CO 2 analyser (Testo, India) was provided to
monitor the carbon dioxide production. This common reactor configuration has been used for the two case studies.
The comparative study of continuous observations and monitoring of the instrument readings as well as the reactor
process conditions for the two case studies for a period of 10 days has been done.

3. Results and Discussion

The continuous monitoring of the process analysis results were carried out .The results obtained were shown in
Table 2. During the experiment period the relative humidity of inlet as well as outlet were measured at specific
intervals. The air inlet relative humidity was in the range 45-55 % while that of air outlet was in the range 75 -85 %
in both the case studies. The detailed study of the results is discussed in the following section.
 Asha P. Tom et al. / Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137 133

Fig.1.Schematic representation of the pilot scale biodrying reactor.

3.1. Temperature profile analysis

The temperature profile study of the first case study (reactor matrix height of 1.65 m) is shown in (Fig.2.) it is
observed that a temperature gradient was observed along the height of the self heating reactor matrix. A maximum
rise of 59 ºC has been obtained by the third day of experiment in the probe 4 at 90 cm distant from the air inlet, but
the peak temperature of 65 ºC has been observed on probe2 placed at 30 cm from air inlet on the seventh day.
Considering the second case study (initial reactor matrix height of 2.0 m) the temperature rise at the probe at 30 cm
from air inlet (nearest to air inlet) was found to be very less in the first day (Fig.3.), and the peak value of
temperature recorded at probe 3, 60 cm from air inlet by the third day of experiment.

Fig.2. Temperature profile- case study1.

134 Asha P. Tom et al. / Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137

Fig.3. Temperature profile- case study2.

Sudden temperature rise and fall of temperature in probes 2, 4 and 5as seen in Fig.3 is due to the air evacuation test
conducted through the air inlet chamber on the 4th and 5th day of experiment. It is seen that the temperature increased
along the direction of air evacuation.

3.2 Weight loss profile

Weight reduction in the first case study was significant while that is lesser in the second case study (Fig. 4.)
Weight reduction of 26.32 % has been achieved during 10 days of experiment in the first case study, while that was
only 19.01% in the second case study where reactor matrix height was more.

Fig. 4. Weight loss profile.

3.3 Moisture reduction profile

The average moisture reduction profile along with standard deviation obtained for different samples for the
two case studies were shown in Fig. 5. The first case study was effective with more uniform moisture reduction
 Asha P. Tom et al. / Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137 135

while compared to the second case study. Average value of moisture content was reduced by 24.26 % in the first
case study, while that was only 15.98 % in the second case study.

Average Moisture profile

80.00
70.00 Moisture
content
Moisture Content (%)

60.00 vs Time-
Case
50.00
study-1
40.00
Moisture
30.00 content
20.00 vs time-
case
10.00 study2
0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (Days)

Fig.5. Average moisture profile.

3.4 Volume reduction

It was observed that volume reduction was higher in the second case study with 43.5 % reduction achieved in
10 days while that was only 35.1 % in the first case study (Fig. 6.). This is an interesting result since the volume
reduction is an indication of active biological decomposition and hence biodegradation process has overtaken
biodrying process in the second case study. Therefore increasing the reactor matrix height at constant air flow rate
will lead to increased rate of biodegradation process.

Volume Reduction-Comparison between two case

50 studies

45 volume
40 vs time-
Volume reduction ( %)

case
35 study1
30
Volume
25 vs time-
20 case
study 2
15
10
5
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time (Days)
Fig. 6. Volume reduction ± comparison of two case studies.
136 Asha P. Tom et al. / Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137

3.4 Bulk Density profile

The bulk density profiles for the two case studies have been plotted as shown in Fig. 7. It is clearly evident
that bulk density increase is higher in the second case study, where 53.1 % increase has occurred. But in the first
case study bulk density increase was only 27.58 %.

Bulk Density Profile

310.00 Bulk
Densit
290.00 yvs
Bulk Density ( Kg/m3)

Time-
270.00
Case
250.00 Study1
230.00 Bulk
Densit
210.00 y vs
190.00 Time-
case
170.00 study2
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (Days)

Fig.7. Bulk density increase± comparison of two case studies.

The process efficiency in terms of selected parameters is shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Biodrying process efficiency in terms of selected parameters

Parameter Percentage Variation in 10 days (Decrease/Increase)

Case study1 Case study2
Weight 26.32 19.01
Average moisture content 24.26 15.98
Volume 35.1 43.5
Bulk density 27.58 53.1

4. Conclusions

The experimental investigations were conducted at a constant air flow rate on pilot scale biodrying reactor using
mixed municipal solid waste substrate in order to study the effect of the reactor matrix height on process efficiency.
The first case study with lesser reactor feed height (1.65 m) was found to be effective in terms of drying with a
weight reduction of 26.32 % and average moisture reduction of 24.26 %, obtained in 10 days of reaction. But when
the pile height was increased to 2.0 m in the second case study the weight reduction reduced to 19.01 % and average
moisture reduction has been reduced to 15.98 %. Considering the bulk volume reduction and bulk density increase
of the mixed municipal solid waste substrate the second case study was more efficient with 43.5 % volume
reduction and 53.1 % bulk density augmentation, while that was 35.1% volume reduction and 27.58 % bulk density
increase in the first case study. The temperature profile variations also confirmed that biodrying process was more
effective when reactor matrix height is less, and increasing the reactor matrix height favoured the biodegradation
process. The present investigations concluded that reactor matrix height is an important factor affecting the
biodrying process efficiency.
 Asha P. Tom et al. / Procedia Technology 25 (2016) 130 – 137 137

Acknowledgement

The present research work is being carried out at National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology
(NIIST) Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin University of Science & Technology. The project is financially supported
by the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). We would like to thank KSCSTE
for the sincere support provided.

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