An experimental research on woodchip drying using a screw conveyor dryer

Drying of woodchip in particleboard manufacturing, combustion, gasification and pyrolysis is important. It is crucial to dry wood before these processes in order to perform a smooth operation, derive high quality products and increase process efficiency. In this study, drying characteristics of woodchips with 0-2 mm and 2-5 mm particle sizes used in particle board manufacturing were determined under various drying air flow rates (10 m3/h and 20 m3/h), flow conditions (co-current and counter-current) and screw rotation speed (10 rpm and 20 rpm). It was managed to reduce the moisture content of the woodchips to 12,6% (wt%, wet basis) using co-current flow conditions, 10 rpm screw rotation speed, 20 m3/h air flow rate with both of the particle sizes.