Prototype Patent WO2025/109237 A1 for Measuring Diffusivity and Mass Transfer in Solid Biofuels

This work focuses on testing and validating a prototype device for measuring mass transfer phenomena in biomass drying processes, patented by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and Escuela Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), WO2025/109237 A1. The first step involved evaluating and calibrating the sensors of the measuring device to ensure accurate and consistent measurements. Subsequently, extensive tests were conducted to validate the prototype’s functionality for obtaining mass diffusivity and the mass transfer coefficient by convection at the solid-air interface. Finally, the results obtained were compared with those provided by existing predictive theoretical models in the literature. Areas for improvement in the theoretical models were identified, and adjustments were made to optimize prediction. The study highlights that the theoretical Sherwood method for estimating the mass transfer coefficient shows discrepancies with experimental data, mainly due to the assumption that the transfer coefficient remains constant during drying, whereas it actually varies with the material’s moisture content. This leads to inaccuracies that affect the efficiency of industrial drying systems. The prototype proved effective in measuring both diffusivity and mass transfer coefficient, validating the method.