Optimisation processes of energy efficiency for a drying plant: A case of study for Turkey

This study presents the optimisation processes of energy efficiency for a drying plant. The scope of this study was to find the optimum energy and exergy efficiencies for the drying plant (production of bulgur). First, mass and energy data were obtained from tests at drying plants. The exergy was analysed based on these data using the first and second laws of thermodynamics. These results were optimised by the changing mass and energy (temperature etc.) balance based on food guidance processes. This paper showed that the optimisation of the mass and energy balance increased the current energy and exergy efficiencies. Uncertainty analysis was also used for the data accuracy. In conclusion, the current drying process energy and exergy efficiencies were 24.95% and 44.05%, and the optimised drying process energy and exergy efficiencies were 35.40% and 63.20%. Therefore, the optimised process is more efficient than the current process. A techno-economic analysis was also researched for this study. - Highlights: • The energy efficiency of a drying plant depends more on mass than humidity. • Energy and exergy analyses are a proper tool to optimise the drying process. • The results show the optimisation of drying plant's construction and set a new isolation system. • Uncertainty analysis shows the data accuracy. • Techno-economic analysis performs the efficiency of the drying plant's optimisation