Primary energy demand and energy costs of fixed-bed drying using the example of chamomile flowers

Abstract

Energy use efficiency in the drying of medicinal and aromatic plants is largely determined by weather conditions and process parameters. While the former are beyond control, the latter can be optimized. In order to achieve such optimization, different energy supply variants, based on typical operating conditions of batch-type grate drying in Thuringia, Germany, were analyzed. It was found that partial air recirculation and integration of heat pumps allow substantial savings in primary energy. However, under the constraint of German energy prices, significant savings in energy costs can only be achieved if combined heat and power generation systems are applied at the same time.

Keywords:

• Batch-type drying
• medicinal plants
• weather conditions
• heat pump
• efficiency analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funds of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on a decision by the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany via the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) under grant number 22015612.