Experimental Study and Modeling of Drying Kinetics and Evaluation of Thermal Diffusivity of Sewage Sludge

Abstract:

This article discusses the use of solar dryers as a method for stabilizing and reducing the volume of residual sludge produced by wastewater treatment facilities. The study focused on the convective drying behavior of sewage sludge produced by the wastewater treatment plant of Meknes City under convective solar drying. The study aimed to investigate the drying kinetics of sewage sludge and emphasize the effect of temperature and water content on the evolution of the drying rate. The measured water content values showed a decrease as drying time increased. The results revealed the presence of phase II, which characterizes the decreasing rate drying period, and the absence of phase I, which describes the constant rate drying period.The study developed an empirical model to describe the kinetic behavior of convective solar drying of Moroccan domestic sludge. The model can be used to predict the shape of a drying curve under other aerothermal conditions. Additionally, the study analyzed the thermal diffusivity and activation energy of sewage sludge using an experimental macroscopic method based on Fick's diffusion model and the Arrhenius equation. The measured diffusion coefficient values range from 0,71 10^-9 m².s^-1 to 1,47 10^-9 m².s^-1, and the value of activation energy was evaluated at 17.54 kJ/mol.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 954)
• Pages: 55-71
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-d2lnmZ
• Online since: August 2023
• Authors: El Houssayne Bougayr*, Lakhal El Khadir, Ali Idlimam, Azeddine Fantasse, Abdelkader Lamharrar, Mohamed Kouhila, Naji Abdenoouri, Fatiha Berroug
• Keywords: Activation Energy, Convective Solar Drying, Drying Kinetics, Modeling, Sewage Sludge, Thermal Diffusivity

References

[1] Q. Wang, J. Zhu, X. Lu, Numerical simulation of heat transfer process in solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower with radiation model, Applied Thermal Engineering. 114 (2017) 977–983.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.11.155

[2] R. Poblete, O. Painemal, Improvement of the solar drying process of sludge using thermal storage, Journal of Environmental Management. 255 (2020) 109883.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109883

[3] S. Amir, M. Hafidi, G. Merlina, J.C. Revel, Sequential extraction of heavy metals during composting of sewage sludge, Chemosphere. 59(6) (2005) 801–810.

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.11.016

[4] M.O. Belloulid, H. Hamdi, L. Mandi, N. Ouazzani, Solar drying of wastewater sludge: a case study in Marrakesh Morocco, Environmental Technology. 40(10) (2017) 1316-1322.

DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2017.1421713

[5] Y.W. Huang, M.Q. Chen, L. Jia, Assessment on thermal behavior of municipal sewage sludge thin-layer during hot air forced convective drying, Applied Thermal Engineering. 96 (2016) 209–216.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.11.090

[6] C.A. Perussello, C. Kumar, F.D. Castilhos, M.A. Karim, Heat and mass transfer modeling of the osmo-convective drying of yacon roots (Smallanthus sonchifolius), Applied Thermal Engineering. 63(1) (2014) 23–32.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.10.020

[7] M. Kouhila, A. Belghit, M. Daguenet, Détermination expérimentale et théorique des courbes de sorption et de la cinétique de séchage de la menthe verte, Revue Française Entropie. 233 (2001) 20-31.

DOI: 10.3166/sda.21.499-518

[8] Y.W. Huang, M.Q. Chen, L. Jia, Évaluation du comportement thermique de la couche mince des boues d'épuration municipales lors du séchage par convection forcée à air chaud, Génie thermique appliqué. 96 (2016) 209–216.

[9] M. Danish, H. Jing, Z. Pin, L. Ziyang, Q. Pansheng, A new drying kinetic model for sewage sludge drying in presence of CaO and NaClO, Applied Thermal Engineering. 106(2016) 141-152.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.05.191

[10] E.H. Bougayr, E.K. Lakhal, A. Idlimam, A. Lamharrar, M. Kouhila, F. Berroug, Experimental study of hygroscopic equilibrium and thermodynamic properties of sewage sludge, Applied Thermal Engineering. 143 (2018) 521–531.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.07.048

[11] I. Ali, L. Abdelkader, B. El Houssayne, K. Mohamed, L. El Khadir, Solar convective drying in thin layers and modeling of municipal waste at three temperatures, Applied Thermal Engineering. 108 (2016) 41–47.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.07.098

[12] Y. Bahammou, Z. Tagnamas, A. Lamharrar, A. Idlimam, Thin-layer solar drying characteristics of Moroccan horehound leaves (Marrubium vulgare L.) under natural and forced convection solar drying, Solar Energy. 188 (2019) 958–969.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.07.003

[13] Z. Tagnamas, Y. Bahammou, M. Kouhila, A. Lamharrar, A. Idlimam, Thin layer solar drying of Moroccan carob pulp (Ceratonia Siliqua L.), IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 161 (2018) 012007.

DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/161/1/012007

[14] Y. Bahammou, H. Lamsyehe, M. Kouhila, A. Lamharrar, A. Idlimam, N. Abdenouri, Valorization of co-products of sardine waste by physical treatment under natural and forced convection solar drying, Renewable Energy. 142 (2019) 110-122.

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.04.012

[15] S. Touré, S. Kibangu-Nkembo, Comparative study of natural solar drying of cassava, banana and mango, Renewable Energy. 29(6) (2004) 975–990.

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2003.09.013

[16] A. Belghit, M. Kouhila, B.C. Boutaleb, Experimental study of drying kinetics by forced convection of aromatic plants, Volume 41, Issue 12, August 2000, Pages 1303-1321.

DOI: 10.1016/s0196-8904(99)00162-4

[17] A. Leonard, S. Blacher, P. Marchot, M. Crine, Use of X-ray microtomography to follow the convective heat drying of wastewater sludges, Drying. Techn. 20 (2002) 1053–1069.

DOI: 10.1081/drt-120004013

[18] L. Guicai, L. Yanfen, G. Shaode, M. Xiaoqian, Z. Chengcai, W. Jie, Thermal behavior and kinetics of municipal solid waste during pyrolysis and combustion process, Appl. Therm. Eng. 98 (5) (2016) 400–408.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.12.067

[19] I. Seiginer, M. Bux, Modeling solar drying rate of wastewater sludge, Drying Technol. 24 (11) (2006) 1353–1363.

DOI: 10.1080/07373930600952362

[20] L. Bennamoun, A. Belhamri, Study of Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media: Application to Packed-BedDrying, Fluid Dynamics and Materials Processing. 4, (4) (2008) 221 – 230.

[21] A. Fantasse, E.K. Lakhal, A. Idlimam, F. Berroug, Energy efficiency of drying kinetics process of hydroxide sludge wastes in an indirect convection solar dryer, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Transactions of the ASME. 143(4) (2021) 041007.

DOI: 10.1115/1.4049622

[22] J. Crank, "The mathematics of diffusion", Clarendon Press, UK, Oxford university, 1975.

[23] A. Fick, "Ueber Diffusion", Annalen der Physik, 170, (1855) 59 – 86.

DOI: 10.1002/andp.18551700105

[24] A. Aghfir , S. Akkad , M. Rhazi, C.S.E. Kane, M. Kouhila, Détermination du coefficient de diffusion et de l'énergie d'activation de la menthe lors d'un séchage conductif en régime continu, Revue des Energies Renouvelables. 11 (3) (2008) 385 – 394.

[25] A. Benhamou, A. Idlimam, A. Lamharrar, B. Benyoucef, M. Kouhila, Diffusivité hydrique et cinétique de séchage solaire en convection forcée des feuilles de marjolaine, Revue des Energies Renouvelables. 11 (1) (2008) 75 – 85.

[26] A. Lopez, A. Iguaz, A. Esnoz, P. Virseda, Thin layer drying behaviour of vegetable wastes from wholesale market, Drying Technology. 18 (2000) 995 – 1006.

DOI: 10.1080/07373930008917749

[27] Fantasse, A., Parra Angarita, S., Léonard, A., Lakhal, E.K., Idlimam, A., Bougayr, E.H., Rheological Behavior and Characterization of Drinking Water Treatment Sludge from Morocco, Clean Technologies. 5, (2023) 259-273 (2021)