1-3 November 2019, Hammamet, Tunisia

International Congress on Energetic and Environmental Systems (IEES-2019)

Sewage sludge drying kinetics in a lab-scale

draining greenhouse
Azza Masmoudi1*, Ahlem Ben Sik Ali2,Hatem Dhaouadi3, Hatem Mhiri4
1
Laboratoire de Thermique et Thermodynamique des Procédés industriels, Ecole Nationale des Ingénieurs de Monastir,
Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisie
2
Laboratoire de Thermique et Thermodynamique des Procédés industriels, Ecole Nationale des Ingénieurs de Monastir,
Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisie
3
UR 13ES63 Chimie Appliquée - Environnement, Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Monastir,
Monastir, Tunisie
4
Laboratoire de Thermique et Thermodynamique des Procédés industriels, Ecole Nationale des Ingénieurs de Monastir,
Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisie
E-mail: 1azza.masmoudi@gmail.com, 2ahlem.sikali@yahoo.fr,3hatem.dhaouadi.fsm@gmail.com,
4
mhiri.hatem@gmail.com
(*: Corresponding Author)

Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate and model the sewage sludge drying kinetics in a lab-scale draining greenhouse by
varying the air flow rate during winter. The first experiment was conducted without ventilation. Then, a series of experiences was carried
out with increasing the air flow. To reach a moisture content of 0.12 kg water/ kg DS, the drying period of the sludge layer of 2 cm thickness
varied between 9 and 14 days. The different curves of the moisture and dry solid content evolution were analyzed. By increasing the air
velocity, the drying time decreased. During this drying method, the product passes through three distinguishable phases: wet phase, sticky
phase and granular phase. Mathematical equations were used to identify the drying kinetics of draining solar drying of sewage sludge in thin
layer. The model page was the most reliable for simulating the variation of reduced moisture content.
Keywords: sewage sludge; draining solar drying; air flow rate; modeling; drying kinetics;

Mathematical equations in the form of empirical

I. INTRODUCTION
Drying is an important step in sludge treatment to
reduce its volume by extracting the maximum amount
of water. The draining solar drying is considered as an
innovative solution in the area of sanitation. By
coupling the solar drying with the filtration on a drying
bed, this solution consists in increasing the flow of
water extracted from the sludge by accelerating the
evaporation under the greenhouse effect surrounding
the drying bed.
The sludge solar drying using a drying bed or a
greenhouse only was the subject of various studies. Al-
Nozaily and al. have submitted a research about the
effect of certain factors as sand type, blocs spacing and
polymer addition on the sludge drying period [1].
Joceline and al. have made a comparison between the
drying bed and the planted drying bed to determine
which one gives better results [2]. Salihoglu and al.
have presented the performance of a solar drying plant
located in Bursa city in Turkey [3]. Mathioudakis and
al. have proposed a study on the sewage sludge solar
drying process efficiency in the northern region of
Greece using two installations [4]. One of them was
equipped with a gravel floor where hot water,
generated by a solar collector, was circulated.
or semi-empirical relationships are the most used to
represent the thin-layer drying kinetics curves. Some
researchers have implemented these models in sludge
drying works. Wang and al. have used mathematical
equations to simulate sludge drying curves with a
drying oven [5]. To determine the most appropriate
model to describe the drying curves sludge with an
indirect forced convection solar dryer, Idlimam and al.
have adjusted the experimental drying curve by nine
mathematical equations [6].
The objective of this work is the experimental
study and modeling of the sludge drying kinetics in a
lab-scale draining greenhouse by varying the air flow
rate during winter.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Experimental design
The drying experiences were carried out in a pilot
scale-draining greenhouse (Fig.1) made of Plexiglas
and located in the area of wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP) of Ksour Essef. The prototype consists of
two compartments. The lower part is a drying bed with
dimensions of 1 m * 0.5 m * 0.5 m. The bed consists
of 10 cm thick gravel layer and 5 cm thick sand layer.
A PVC pipe is placed at the exit of the bed to drain the
water, which is then collected. The upper part is a
tetrahedral greenhouse with a length of 1 m, a width of

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 1-3 November 2019, Hammamet, Tunisia
International Congress on Energetic and Environmental Systems (IEES-2019)

0.5 m and a height of 0.7 m. On its side walls, aerations
flaps are fixed to allow the indoor air renewal. To
ensure the tightness of the pilot, the assembly between
the two compartments is done by a joint. The
installation is equipped with the following accessories:
 A KIMO solarimeter to determine the density
of the solar radiation received by the sludge.
 A Thermoken AVTD anemometer with an
accuracy of ± 0.1 m/s to measure the air
velocity.
 Two Thermokon LCN FTW04 LCD thermo-
hygrometers disposed inside the draining
greenhouse with a precision of ± 2% for
measuring the relative humidity and ± 0.5 ° C
for the temperature of the indoor air and one
other installed outside to determine the
temperature and humidity of the outside air.
 Four thermocouples placed at different points
on the sludge surface to follow the evolution
of its temperature.
The saturated air accumulated in the plant is
discharged with an exhaust fan and replaced with fresh
ambient air. Considering a sludge depth of 2 cm, a
thickened sludge volume of 0.01 m3 could be treated
during each experiment.
B. Experimental procedure
The experimental campaign was carried out
during winter. Therefore, we have collected, with the
measuring instruments, the solar radiation density, the
ambient air temperature and humidity and the draining
greenhouse indoor temperature and humidity.
The ventilation effect on drying was investigated.
The first experience for each season was conducted
without ventilation. Then, a series of experiences was
carried out with increasing the air flow rate.
To follow the evolution of the moisture and dry
solid content of sludge during the drying process, daily
samples were analyzed. The two parameters were
measured according to the gravimetric method
(APHA) [7], which consists in weighing the sample,
heating it in an oven at 105°C and then putting it in a
desiccator to be weighed again. The volatile dry solid
content was determined according to the gravimetric
method (APHA) [7].
C. Sewage sludge characteristics
The samples of sludge used in the experimental
campaign are secondary activated sludge obtained
from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Ksour
Essef in Tunisia. The sludge was obtained after gravity
thickening. The other properties of sludge are shown in
Table I.
D. Mathematical modeling
The dry solids content (%), weights ratio obtained
after before and after the drying process, is given by:
DS = Wd/W0 * 100 (1)
Where W0 = Initial weight of the sample (kg)
Wd = Weight of the dry solid which is obtained
by putting the sample in an oven at 105°C for 24 hours
(kg).
The average moisture content (kg water / kg DS),
the amount of water present in the sample, is expressed
according to the following relation:
X = (W0 _ Wd) / Wd (2)

TABLE I. CHARACTERISICS OF THE SLUDGE USED IN THE

EXEPRIMENTAL CAMPAIGN IN WINTER

Experience

Parameter 1 2 3 4 5

ρ(kg/m 3) 901 905 941 958 947

mi (kg) 9 9 9.41 9.58 9.47
Vi (L) 10 10 10 10 10
Thickness (cm) 2 2 2 2 2
Dry solids (%) 5.5 4.5 4.9 4.6 6.1
Volatile solids 69.8 66.3 77.7 70.44 74.4
(%)

Fig.1. A lab-scale draining greenhouse

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 1-3 November 2019, Hammamet, Tunisia
International Congress on Energetic and Environmental Systems (IEES-2019)

The reduced moisture content is defined by:
Xr = (X_Xeq) / (Xc_ Xeq) (3)
Where: X = average moisture content (kg water / kg
DS),
Xeq = equilibrium moisture content which
corresponds to the limit value obtained after a time for
a product
Xc = critical moisture content marking the
transition between the constant rate period (phase 1)
and falling rate period (phase 2).
The modeling of thin-layer solar drying curves
consists in representing the curves of the reduced
moisture content as a function of time (Xred = f (t)) by
mathematical equations in the form of empirical or
semi-empirical relations. These models contain
constants that are adjusted to be consistent with the
thin-layer experimental drying curves. Table II
regroups six mathematical models found in the
literature and tested in our work to describe the kinetics
draining solar drying of sewage sludge.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Drying Conditions
The drying experiments were carried out from 15
November 2018 to 07 March 2019 in winter. The solar
intensity, the outdoor air temperature and humidity and
the indoor air temperature and humidity were recorded
continuously during each drying test. All experiences
have ended once the samples reached a moisture
content of 0.12 kg water/ kg DS. Fig.2 to 4 illustrate
the variation of temperature, humidity and solar
intensity of ambient air as a function of time each day
during operations.
The solar radiation is a climatic factor that has a
significant effect on drying. As it is shown in Fig.2 to
4, it ranged between 94.36 and 249.86 W/m2 in winter.
During the cold campaign, the outdoor humidity
ranged between 50.1 % and 79.8% and the maximum
temperature was 19.9°C.

The models are compared based on the

coefficient of determination R2 and the chi-square
parameter χ2. The best model will be the one with the
highest value of R2 and the lowest value of χ2. These
values are estimated as follows:
̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
(Xr pre,i −X r exp,i )
R 2 = ∑N
i=1 2 (4)
(Xr exp,i − ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
Xr exp,i )

∑N
i=1(Xr exp,i −Xr pre,i )
2
χ2 = (5)
N−z
With:

1
̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
𝑋𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝,𝑖 = ∑𝑁
𝑖=1 𝑋𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝,𝑖 (6)
𝑁

Where: Xr exp,i = the ith experimental reduced moisture

content
Xr pre,i = the ith reduced moisture content
predicted by each model Fig.2. Outdoor air temperature variation in winter

N= the number of experimental points

z= the number of constants

TABLE II. CHARACTERISICS OF THE SLUDGE USED IN THE

EXEPRIMENTAL CAMPAIGN IN WINTER

Model Expression of the model

Newton [8] Xr = exp (-kt) (7)
Page [9] Xr = exp (-ktn) (8)
Henderson and Pabis Xr = a exp (-kt) (9)
[10]
Logarithmic [11] Xr = a exp (-kt) + c (10)
Wang and Singh [12] Xr = 1 + at+ bt2 (11)
Two-term [13] Xr = a exp (-k0t) + b exp (-k1t) (12)

Where: a, b, k, k0, k1, g, h and n = constants to be

determined

Fig.3. Outdoor air humidity variation in winter

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International Congress on Energetic and Environmental Systems (IEES-2019)

Fig.4. Solar radiation variation in winter Fig.5. Variation of moisture content as a function of time in winter

B. Draining solar drying performance analysis The dry solid content variation curves in winter
(Fig.6) can be divided into three zones: wet sludge
Table III summarizes the final results of the zone for a dry solid content lower than 20%, pasty
experiments carried out in winter. The final dry solid sludge zone for a dry solid content between 20 and
content values of sludge are in the order of 89% which 50% and granular zone for a dry solid content greater
corresponds to a moisture content of 0.12 kg water /kg than 50%. This is the same conclusion found by Gruter
DS. The drying period of the sludge layer of 2 cm and al. [16] who have studied the conductive drying.
thickness varied from 9 to 14 days in winter.
When the product is introduced into the draining
As it is shown in Fig.5, by increasing the greenhouse, the sludge flows freely and can spread
ventilation rate, the drying time decreased. For easily. This is the wet sludge zone, which is
example, to reach a moisture content of 0.12 kg water characterized by a low drying rate. Besides, we also
/ kg DS, a 2 cm thickness layer required 14 days for note that its duration decreased by increasing the air
drying without ventilation, 12 days for Fr = 0.022 m3/s flow rate. For example, for the case of drying without
and 9 days for Fr = 0.05 m3/s. Indeed, the air flow ventilation, its duration was 168 hours. However, it
increase leads to an increase in the air velocity. This was 60 hours for Fr = 0.05 m3/s. When the dry solid
improves the convective exchanges and accelerates the content exceeds a value of 20%, the sludge becomes
drying process. This result was also obtained using viscous and sticky. It is the pasty phase. The drying rate
other drying methods [14] and for drying plant increases. This is due to the reduction of the sludge
products [15]. layer thickness and the increase of its concentration,
which favors the heat transfer by conduction [17].
TABLE III. RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENTS From a dry solid content of 50%, the sludge is
Flow rate (Fr) Winter transformed into granules. It is therefore friable and
(m3/s)
mixes more freely. This transformation rises the drying
% DS Drying time (days) surface and consequently the drying rate [18, 19].
Without ventilation 89 14
0.0072 89 13
0.022 89 12
0.036 89 11
0.05 89 9

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 1-3 November 2019, Hammamet, Tunisia
International Congress on Energetic and Environmental Systems (IEES-2019)

TABLE IV. RESULTS OF MODELS DESCRIBING THE SLUDGE

DRYING KINETICS IN WINTER

Model Coefficients R2 χ2
Newton k= 0.0117 0.99078 9.4 10-4
Page k=0.00482 ; 0.99799 2.2 10-4
n=1.18931
Henderson and a= 1.03416 ; 0.99203 8.74 10-
4
Pabis k=0.012
Logarithmic a= 1.0709 ; 0.99752 2.95 10-
4
k=0.0103 ;
c= -0.056
Wang and a = -0.00783 ; 0.98877 0.016
-5
Singh b = 1.4969 10 ;
Two-term a=b= 0.517 ; 0.99203 10.3 10-
4
k0=k1= 0.01206

Fig.6. The evolution of the dry solid content during drying

experience
C. Modeling of experimental curves for thin-layer
sludge drying
To predict the behavior of the product during
drying, the experimental drying curve describing the
variation of the reduced moisture content as a function
of time in winter was modeled by six mathematical
equations.
The coefficient of determination R2 and the chi-
square parameter χ2 are two criteria for selecting the
appropriate model to the description of the shape of
sludge drying kinetics. The specific constants in each
of the selected models and the static parameters were
determined using OriginPro 8 based software on the
nonlinear optimization method.
The coefficients of the thin-layer drying models,
the coefficient of determination R2 and the chi-square
parameter χ2 were determined and summarized in
Table IV.
The model that provides the highest value of R2
and the lowest value of χ2 was chosen as the best
represent sludge drying kinetics. The results show that
the Page model was the optimal model for the
simulation of sludge drying in winter with R2 equal to
0.99799 and χ2 equal to 2.2 10-4. However, the Wang
and Singh model was the least suitable.
IV. CONCLUSION
The draining solar drying is a new solution in the
field of sludge treatment. The effect of the air flow rate
was investigated. The first experiment was conducted
without ventilation. Then, a series of experiences was
carried out with increasing the air flow. The drying
period of the sludge layer of 2 cm thickness varied
between 9 and 14 days. By increasing the air velocity,
the drying time decreased. During drying, the product
passes through three distinguishable phases: wet phase,
sticky phase and granular phase. The experimental
drying kinetics of draining solar drying of sewage
sludge in thin layer were modeled by six mathematical
equations. The Page model was the most reliable for
describing the evolution of the reduced moisture
content as a function of time in cold periods.
Nevertheless, the Wang and Singh model was the least
suitable.
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International Congress on Energetic and Environmental Systems (IEES-2019)
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