SOLAR FLASH-DRYING PROCESS FOR PHOSPHATES

InnoTherm III.13

Centro Tecnológico Avanzado de Energías Renovables

S. Vaudreuil T. Bounahmidi

R. El Mrabet V. Ruiz-Hernandez

P. Pozzorini

Project target

•Development of a drying process using solar thermal energy as an energy source:

• Types of dryer: Flash and Rotary

• Materials to be dried: Phosphates and mining sludge

EXAMPLE OF

THE PROCESS

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CHAMP  D’HÉLIOSTATS

RÉCEPTEUR

CONCENTRATEUR  SOLAIRE

COLONNE  DE  

SÉCHAGE

VENTURI

CAISSON  D'AIR  CHAUD

DISTRIBUTEUR  À  VIS

MÉLANGEUR

ALIMENTATION

PRODUIT

RECIRCULATION

SÉPARATEUR  CYCLONIQUE

VENTILATEUR

AIR  FRAIS

ÉCHANGEUR

Project Objectives

•Develop a solar drying process for phosphates and mining sludge

• Enhance scientific and technical knowledge on the flash drying process

• Evaluate the technical feasibility and the economics of solar drying phosphates and mining sludge

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Project Components

1) Development of a test bench for empirical studies on flash-drying.

2) Modeling of the flash dryer and rotary dryer.

3) Development of a solar thermal technology.

4) Utilization of the model for the preliminary draft of the solar flash-dryer.

5) Fabrication of the solar flash-dryer pilot plant.

6) Study draft of an industrial flash-drying unit.

7) Study draft of the adaptation of a rotary drier for mining sludge.

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Roles of Partners

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� Project coordination � Scientific Expertise � Supervision of PhD students � Site for test bench

� Fabrication of the solar collector (Test bed and semi-pilot) � Technical Expertise � Hosting doctoral students: training and testing

� Scientific expertise � Technical Expertise � Hosting doctoral students: training and testing

� Technical expertise � Provision of HR (P.Eng, tech.) � Industrial Testing � Installation site of the semi-pilot solar flash-dryer

Centro Tecnológico Avanzado de Energías Renovables

Example of the CSP Experience of

• Simple operation: use of air as heat transfer

fluid without intermediary heat exchanger

• Air temperature output: up to 650 ° C

• Less expensive solar collectors than other types: Simple construction with locally produced materials, fewer imported components.

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Cimar, Italcementi Group Ait Baha

Potential benefits

• Financial savings from reduced energy consumption of fossil sources

• Protection of the environment through reduction in CO2 production

• Training of 4 PhD students and one post-doctoral on the industrial applications of solar energy

• Generate Intellectual Property (3 patents, 12 publications)

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