Effect of drying temperatures on charcoal briquettes drying using a combined solar energy and far-infrared radiation dryer, and a far-infrared radiation dryer

Abstract

This research aims to study the effect of drying temperature on the changes in the moisture content of charcoal briquettes undergoing drying of solar energy and far-infrared radiation (Solar+FIR), and far-infrared radiation (FIR). The electricity consumption and the specific energy consumption were also investigated. The coconut shell charcoal briquettes with the initial moisture content of about 41-43% MW were dried at 55, 60 and 65oC until the final moisture content of 8% MW was obtained. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the drying temperatures and the drying methods had effects on the changes in the moisture content of charcoal briquettes. Drying at high temperature could reduce the moisture content of charcoal briquettes faster than that at low temperature. Drying using FIR could reduce the moisture content of charcoal briquettes faster than that using Solar+FIR. Moreover, the electricity consumption and the specific energy consumption decreased with an increase in the drying temperature. Drying using Solar+FIR had lower electricity consumption, but had higher specific energy consumption than drying using FIR. In this study, the charcoal briquettes had the average heating value of about 6,667.05 cal/g.