Use of waste heat for belt drying in Scotland
In the summer months, an agricultural business in Scotland generates excess heat from several wood-fired boilers (500 kW thermal each). This heat has not been fully utilized to date. At the same time, there was a need to dry own wood chips and locally supplied brewer’s grains cost-effectively in order to improve storability and energy content.
The challenge: Excess heat and residual materials
During the heating season, the wood-fired boilers reliably supply heat. In summer, however, a lot of energy remained unused. At the same time, there was an acute need to dry own wood chips and locally supplied brewer’s grains. Without reducing the residual moisture, storage, energy generation or recycling would hardly have been possible.
The solution: Hans Binder belt dryer with heat exchanger technology
The excess waste heat is collected via a buffer storage and transferred via heat exchangers to an energy-efficient belt dryer from Hans Binder. The system with a capacity of 4 t/h fresh mass ensures a continuous, uniform drying process – without additional fossil energy input.
Project results
- 100% utilization of the brewer’s grains: Instead of being disposed of, they now serve as valuable feed.
- Optimized wood chips: Reduction of the water content from 45% to 15% and thus significantly higher calorific value.
- Sustainability: Around 480 t CO₂ savings per year through the substitution of fossil fuels.
- Profitability: Amortization period of the investment is less than three years.
Special features of the installation
- Year-round heat utilization: Excess energy is used effectively even in the summer months.
- Strengthening regional cycles: Wood chips and brewer’s grains are recycled sustainably.
- Circular economy in practice: The company reduces waste and at the same time increases the value of regional residual materials.
Conclusion: Efficient drying for agriculture and energy generation
The Hans Binder belt dryer not only increases the efficiency of the existing heat generation, but also strengthens the regional circular economy. Residual materials such as brewer’s grains are recycled in a meaningful way and wood chips are processed into a high-quality energy source – a sustainable win-win solution for business and the environment.
