CRC Press Advances in Heat Pump-Assisted Drying Technology: 1 (Advances in Drying Science and Technology)

Drying of solids is one of the most common, complex, and energy-intensive industrial processes. Conventional dryers offer limited opportunities to increase energy efficiency. Heat pump dryers are more energy and cost effective, as they can recycle drying thermal energy and reduce CO2, particulate, and VOC emissions due to drying. This book provides an introduction to the technology and current best practices and aims to increase the successful industrial implementation of heat pump- assisted dryers. It enables the reader to engage confidently with the technology and provides a wealth of information on theories, current practices, and future directions of the technology. It emphasizes several new design concepts and operating and control strategies, which can be applied to improve the economic and environmental efficiency of the drying process. It answers questions about risks, advantages vs. disadvantages, and impediments and offers solutions to current problems. Discusses heat pump technology in general and its present and future challenges. Describes interesting and promising innovations in drying food, agricultural, and wood products with various heat pump technologies. Treats several technical aspects, from modeling and simulation of drying processes to industrial applications. Emphasizes new design concepts and operating and control strategies to improve the efficiency of the drying process. Review "This book presents balanced materials on advances in practical applications of heat pump technologies and fundamental research. Therefore, it will be useful both for engineers, who work in industry, and for researchers, whose interests lie in developing new drying technologies and fundamental research."―Shusheng Pang, University of Canterbury, New Zealand "This book … addresses not just the cutting edge harder applications such as high temperature district heating at 90 degrees Celsius, but how to deploy heat pumps for industrial drying and thereby saving circa 70 percent of energy cost."―David Pearson, Star Refrigeration, Glasgow, Scotland "The publication will be an excellent contribution for the better integration of heat pumps in industrial processes."― Hans-Jürgen Laue, Information Centre on Heat Pumps and Refrigeration IZW e.V., Germany About the Author Vasile Minea received his PhD from Bucharest University, Romania, where he was professor for over 15 years. During this period, his R&D work focused on heat exchangers, heat pump and recovery systems, advanced compression–absorption/resorption heat pump concepts, and solar energy for comfort and industrial cooling processes. Since 1987, Dr. Minea has been research scientist at Hydro-Québec Research Institute, Canada. His research focuses on commercial and industrial refrigeration, heat recovery and geothermal heat pump systems, low-enthalpy power generation cycles, and heat pump drying. During the past 15 years, he collaborated with the Canadian and American heat pump drying industry and R&D drying community in developing laboratory- and industrial-scale experimental prototypes. Results have been published in drying conference proceedings and prestigious journals such as Drying Technology and International Journal of Refrigeration.