Process Simulation and Optimization for Fry Drying of Low Rank Coal

We conducted fry drying process simulations of low rank coal and operation optimization. We set up the operating condition of evaporator so that the coal moisture content would come down from 35wt% to 10wt% during the drying process. Through process simulations, we calculated the heat duty supplied and power consumption under each operating condition. From the simulation results, we calculated operating costs on the basis of prices in Indonesia which is a coal producing place. Cases where thermal energy was reused through MVR showed an effect of reducing operating costs by around 50%. The operating conditions were optimized through operating cost analysis and the results indicated that the optimum operating conditions were evaporator pressure 500 kPa and temperature 168 degrees C