Overview of the potential cost savings by using biogas from manure as a renewable energy source for drying corn

This paper presents an overview of two different models of corn drying technologies in Croatia. The standard technology of corn drying with a dryer powered by natural gas as an energy source is compared to with a dryer that is powered by the heat sourced from the CHP unit at the biogas plant. Through the period of 10 days the two different corn dryers were monitored. The main focus of this paper is the basic estimation and comparison of different energy sourced used in the corn per hour. (powered by the heat from the CHP unit) that has a capacity of 12.5 tons of dried corn per hour. The efficiency of the drying process was estimated based on energy consumption expressed in KW of energy, for the period of 10 days. A brief evaluation of cost reduction benefit is presented based on a drying cost per kg of corn. The inlet moisture content of the corn ranged from 17.2 % - 22.4 % at the dryer powered by natural gas. On the other hand, the efficiency of the dryer powered by the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit was presented through the drying of corn that had an inlet moisture content ranging from 18.9 % - 24.0 %, where significant costs reduction of 0.015 USD per kg of dried corn is recorded.