[Gasification] Vacuum drying (was: RE: Drying)

[Rodenhuis, E.J. (Erik Jan, Student TBK)]

Dear Adam, Doug, list,

Today I came across a system I wasn't familiar with, probably others
know more about vacuum drying and its limitations. 
I found an article about a vacuum drying system that is called Dry-Rex,
and seems to be award-winning technology. It does include vacuum drying,
multiple belt dryers and low-grade waste heat. You can find an article
in Bioenergy Update July 2003:
http://www.bioenergyupdate.com/magazine/security/Bioenergy%20Update%2007
-03/Bioenergy%20Update%2007-03.pdf

Also the energy needed to evaporate a ton of water in other drying
systems are mentioned in this article. 

The article mainly discusses drying of sludge, how effective and
efficient would it be for woody biomass?

Regards,

Erik


PS
A glossary of drying technologies can be found at:
http://process-equipment.globalspec.com/Specifications/Processing_Equipm
ent/Heat_Transfer_Equipment/Process_Dryers