Drying kinetics of RDF: Experimental investigation and modeling

An experimental study was performed to determine the drying characteristics of an oversized fraction of RDF alternative fuel using a laboratory scale hot air dryer at a variety air temperatures and a constant air velocity. For this research the industrial RDF was derived from a Regional Municipal Waste Treatment Facility near the city of Kraków, Poland. The samples of RDF were prepared in two forms: ovesized (unmodified condition) and shreded in a two-drum crusher. In addition, the RDF was sorted into three groups of samples: paper, plastic, textiles. Each form of RDF and each group of samples were dried in hot air dryer at temperatures of 50, 70 i 90 °C and a constant air velocity of 1,5 [m·s-1]. The loss of the the samples mass were measured in a continues manner until the equilibrum moisture content was reached. The effective moisture diffusivity [m2·s-1] and activation energies [kJ·mol-1] was amounted. The analysis of the course of moisture content change concludes that that the drying of the RDF alternative fuel occured mainly in the II period of the process during which the transport of water content was carried out by diffusion. And, to a lesser extent, with the surface heat transfer in II period. Based on the calculated data there was a model determined which presented the best possible matching of the course of moisture content change.

Effect of Thermal Modification on the Physical Properties of Populus ussuriensis

Heat treatment is an environmental method of wood modification. The density of Populus ussuriensis, dimensional change and equilibrium moisture content change were tested through the different temperature processing, and get the influence of heat treatment process on the performance of the wood. The results show that heat treatment is an effective way to improve wood dimensional stability and shrinkage properties. With the improvement of heat treatment intensity, the equilibrium balance moisture content of wood will then gradually reduced. When treating temperature reaches 180°C above, the wood drying shrinkage properties greatly decreased, and trend to stable.

Research on the Process of Concrete Damage under Frost Action

This paper summarizes the theories of the concrete damage under frost action. Based on experiments done by researchers in and abroad, the water conversion and the moisture content change in the concrete during the freeze-thaw cycles are analyzed. In this paper, the affection of the expansion and contraction of ice on concrete at temperatures in the usual freeze-thaw test range is particularly taken into consideration. At last, a qualitative process of the concrete damage under frost action is proposed.