A neural based modeling approach for predicting effective thermal conductivity of brewer’s spent grain

• Published in: International journal of numerical methods for heat & fluid flow Vol. 34; no. 8; pp. 3017 - 3044
• Main Authors: Silva, Amanda de Oliveira e, Leonel, Alice, Perazzini, Maisa Tonon Bitti, Perazzini, Hugo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 02.09.2024; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Artificial neural networks; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biomass; Biorefineries; Breweries; By products; Design optimization; Efficiency; Energy industry; Energy resources; Ethanol; Heat conductivity; Heat transfer; Heating; Heating rate; Lignocellulose; Moisture content; Particle size; Performance prediction; Regression models; Renewable resources; Thermal conductivity; Training; Brazil; Thermal properties; Bioenergy; Biomass; Modeling; Heat transfer
• ISSN: 0961-5539; 0961-5539; 1758-6585
• DOI: 10.1108/HFF-10-2023-0594

Purpose Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the main by-product of the brewing industry, holding significant potential for biomass applications. The purpose of this paper was to determine the effective thermal conductivity (keff) of BSG and to develop an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict keff, since this property is fundamental in the design and optimization of the thermochemical conversion processes toward the feasibility of bioenergy production. Design/methodology/approach The experimental determination of keff as a function of BSG particle diameter and heating rate was performed using the line heat source method. The resulting values were used as a database for training the ANN and testing five multiple linear regression models to predict keff under different conditions. Findings Experimental values of keff were in the range of 0.090–0.127 W m−1 K−1, typical for biomasses. The results showed that the reduction of the BSG particle diameter increases keff, and that the increase in the heating rate does not statistically affect this property. The developed neural model presented superior performance to the multiple linear regression models, accurately predicting the experimental values and new patterns not addressed in the training procedure. Originality/value The empirical correlations and the developed ANN can be utilized in future work. This research conducted a discussion on the practical implications of the results for biomass valorization. This subject is very scarce in the literature, and no studies related to keff of BSG were found.