Concentrated Solar Thermal Drying for Mined Minerals

Key efforts to address climate change include reducing the utilization of fossil fuels in the heavy manufacturing industry, one of the most significant users of the nation's energy supply. Using renewable solar energy, the project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of industrial process heat, particularly for the production of construction materials (cement), pharmaceuticals, oil absorbents, cat litter, and similar products. An innovative method will be tested for renewable heat generation using concentrated solar thermal energy and its application in the thermal processing and drying of mined minerals. A feasibility study of the technology will be conducted to develop the necessary baseline for water evaporation rates and the speed of materials heating. Additionally, the basic drying process, parameters, and design for the industrial-size prototype will be delivered during Phase I. The resulting solar drying system will assist and, in some cases, replace fossil fuel-based thermal processing machinery for mined minerals. Energy use reductions of up to 30% are anticipated for large combustion-based minerals processing.