Evaluation of free water removal from different sludge by solar energy utilization

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to provide basic information about the conditions required for the drying of three types of sludge to reduce the problems associated with sludge disposal. By designing an integrated drying system, as a simple technology with paraffin-wax (phase change material), the drying efficiency was investigated with few possibilities for waste sludge management. According to the study by providing 1,880 Wh/m(2), 1,671 Wh/m(2), and 2,051 Wh/m(2) cumulative solar radiation, within 7 h. respectively for wastewater treatment plant sludge (WWTPs.) and paint sludge, free water was released and marble sludge dried completely. The average internal temperature and moisture are the main factors for minimizing the sludge mass and volume and the heat transfer rout between the solar dryer equipment was observed. Water removal from the sludge caused the porous structure of the WWTPs. and paint sludge surface was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to statistical analysis the goodness of the curve fit was evaluated using the R-square and root mean square error (RMSE) for all three sludge types. By solar drying a large volume of sludge water was removed for easy transporting and prepared for the subsequent waste disposal operation.