Innovative STELA-Biturbo technology

3 November 2015, 08:05

The innovative air duct system of the STELA Biturbo technology reduces the required hot air quantity by up to 40 % and thus the specific energy consumption compared with conventional drying plants with active heat recovery.

The fresh air (1) is absorbed in the lower area of the drying plant, heated up by a gas line burner (2) and together with preheated supply air delivered from the cooling zone area (3) to the lower drying section, the dry product area (4). The hot air temperature can be adjusted completely independent of the upper temperature zone. The higher tempered exhaust air (5) from this zone is collected and led into the upper area of the drying plant by means of an intermediate fan (6). By mixing with preheated supply air (7), the hot air of the upper drying zone is generated. This drying air is firstly led through the upper wet product area (8), before it is discharged to atmosphere again as exhaust air by an exhaust air fan (9).

from 0.922 kWh/kgH2o thermal energy demand

Due to this energy-efficient air duct system, a thermal energy demand ex 0.922 kWh/kgH2O is obtained. This value is ca. 15 % below the usual energy consumption of comparable drying plants without this specific heat recovery. This results in an energy consumption of 216.7 kWth when drying one tonne of wet maize with a moisture reduction from 35 % to 15 %, this equates to ca. 20.9 m³ of natural gas (calorific value 10.35 kWh/m³).

Innovative STELA-Biturbo technology with oil heating

Besides gas heating, air heating by air heater (1) with oil fan burner (2) can be realized as well. In order to guarantee also in this case a compact and mainly energy-efficient functionality, STELA Laxhuber turned their attention especially to the positions of both direct air heaters when designing and constructing the air duct system. Thus they ensure that the thermal energy demand is from

0.922 kWh/kgH2o as well. This results in an oil consumption of 21.7 litres for the drying of one tonne of wet maize with a moisture reduction of 35 % to 15 %.

Further advantages of the Biturbo technology:

reduced air volume
improved product quality through alternating ventilation
less dust formation due to the exhaust air filtration in the wet product area
lower electric consumption.