Low-temperature drying of barley tea lees for upcycling / Test cases / Barley tea lees drying, Upcycling drying

Summary

Upcycling of barley tea lees
Drying barley tea lees after barley tea production can minimize compositional changes and enable up-cycling. KENKI DRYER uses a low-temperature steam indirect drying method to minimize compositional changes in barley tea lees, enabling effective use as a recycling or up-cycling material.

Preventing spoilage of barley tea lees
If barley tea lees are left in a high-moisture state, microbial spoilage can occur; the KENKI DRYER uses low-temperature drying to inhibit the growth of spoilage microorganisms and prevent the formation of foul odors and pathogens.

High performance based on our original technology
KENKI DRYER is a unique dryer with 11 patented technologies from 8 countries. Unlike other indirect steam dryers, KENKI DRYER solves problems such as clogging, high fuel costs and parts wear.
Anti-clogging: Our proprietary technology eliminates clogging caused by sugars in barley lees, ensuring smooth drying.
Low temperature drying: Drying at low temperatures minimizes changes in the composition of barley lees and produces high quality recycled materials.
Decarbonized drying: Indirect steam drying and high thermal efficiency design reduce CO2 emissions and environmental impact.
Low running costs: Low running costs due to low temperature drying, low wear of parts and easy maintenance.
Continuous operation: 24-hour continuous operation is possible, ensuring stable production.

Benefits of wheat lees drying
Waste reduction: Drying reduces weight, waste disposal costs and CO2 emissions.
Up-cycling: Can be used for food, fertilizer, compost, bokashi fertilizer, beauty and health products, etc.
Environmental protection: Reduces environmental impact through decarbonization drying, waste reduction and CO2 emission reduction.

Others
Expanding the barley tea market and effective use of barley tea lees
How to drink hot barley tea
Nutritional value of barley tea liquor and application examples
KENKI DRYER’s patented technology and global expansion

KENKI DRYER is the best drying equipment for drying barley tea lees with high functionality, low operating costs and reduced environmental impact.

There are various types of barley tea, for example, six-row barley, two-row barley, and pigeon pea have been commonly used historically.
KENKI DRYER uses steam as its heat source for indirect drying at low temperatures, so there is little change in the composition of the dried material after drying, and it can be fully utilized as a recycled or upcycled product. The dried materials can be recycled and upcycled.

If barley tea lees are left in a high-moisture state, the activity of microorganisms (especially bacteria and molds) in the lees will cause them to spoil. These microorganisms use the moisture and nutrients contained in the barley lees to reproduce, producing gases and odors in the process, and the growth of the microorganisms causes spoilage and the development of foul odors and pathogens. Drying is one effective means of solving these problems.

However, due to the sugars contained in the barley lees barley tea, the barley lees in a barley lees dryer will adhere to the inside of that dryer during drying, clogging it and preventing it from being discharged. KENKI DRYER’s unique and patented technology allows for easy drying of any type of barley lees at low temperatures without clogging the dryer and smooth discharge of the lees after drying.

KENKI DRYER is a steam indirect dryer with 11 patents in 8 countries, but it is completely different from other similar steam indirect dryers and is a unique product. The KENKI DEYER uses steam as its heat source, but its high drying heat efficiency means that less steam is used. The use of surplus steam is not costly in terms of fuel costs, and the dryer does not emit carbon dioxide during drying, thus allowing for decarbonized drying. Alternatively, by installing an electric boiler, no greenhouse gases or CO2 emissions are generated during drying.
The KENKI DRYER is a continuous dryer, not a batch dryer that stores and dries materials to be dried. Therefore, operation management is easy and unmanned operation is possible 24 hours a day.

Drying barley tea lees reduces their weight and the amount of waste materials produced, which in turn reduces the cost of industrial waste, which is rising due to the recent trucking problem in 2024, and also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the number of trucks used for transportation.

Barley tea has recently gained renewed attention due to increased health consciousness, and its market is rapidly expanding. Barley tea contains no caffeine and has no diuretic properties. In addition, barley tea contains polyphenols, which are effective in preventing lifestyle-related diseases.
Barley tea is popular in all seasons except summer. However, it is not in as much demand as it is in the summer. For example, according to a 2019 survey, 88% of respondents said they drink barley tea in the summer, while about half of respondents said they drink barley tea in the winter. In addition, many people drink hot barley tea in the winter because barley tea can be heated.
Drinking hot barley tea in winter has the effect of warming the body. One easy way to make it is to use tea bags and heat them in the microwave. Place one tea bag in a large mug, pour in 200 ml of water, cover with plastic wrap, and heat in the microwave for 2 minutes, then let steep for 1 minute.

Barley tea lees is the beverage residue produced when barley seeds are boiled in hot water to make barley tea, or infused in water to make barley tea. Barley tea lees is a high-protein vegetable resource that is expected to increase food recycling rates and improve the health of livestock. Dried barley tea lees can be used as fertilizer, compost, or bokashi fertilizer. In addition, barley tea lees contain vitamin C, catechins, and other ingredients that have skin beautifying and antioxidant effects, making them useful for beauty and health.

KENKI DRYER can dry sticky and adhesive materials that others cannot dry. KENKI DRYER is a breakthrough drying device with a total of 11 patents (2 in Japan and 9 in 7 overseas countries). Please consider KENKI DRYER for your high moisture organic waste dryer, sludge dryer, slurry dryer, methane fermentation digestate dryer, and waste upcycling or recycling dryer.

KENKI DRYER has been granted 11 patents in 8 countries (Japan, Taiwan, USA, France, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Canada).

Drying barley tea lees can be beneficial for several reasons:

Preservation and Shelf Life:
Drying removes moisture, which helps in preventing microbial growth, mold, and spoilage, thereby extending the shelf life of the barley tea lees.

Storage Efficiency:
Drying reduces the volume and weight of the lees, making storage and transportation more efficient and cost-effective.

Nutrient Concentration:
The drying process concentrates the nutrients, making the dried barley tea lees a more potent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals when used in various applications.

Versatility in Usage:
Dried barley tea lees can be ground into a powder and used as a supplement in foods, beverages, animal feed, or even as a natural fertilizer. This versatility is enhanced by the ease of handling and incorporation of dried materials.

Waste Reduction:
By drying and repurposing barley tea lees, waste is minimized, contributing to more sustainable production practices and potentially providing additional revenue streams.

Improved Flavor and Aroma:
The drying process can enhance the flavor and aroma of barley tea lees, making them more desirable as an ingredient in culinary applications.

Convenience:
Dried barley tea lees are easier to use in various recipes and applications without the need for immediate processing, adding convenience for both manufacturers and consumers.
By drying barley tea lees, these benefits can be realized, adding value to what might otherwise be considered a waste product.

Source：ChatGPT

A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chemical energy but has since also been applied to other sources of heat energy, such as nuclear energy (via nuclear fission and nuclear fusion).

Source：Wiki Fuel

Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in plant nutrients and beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi. Compost improves soil fertility in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture, and organic farming, reducing dependency on commercial chemical fertilizers. The benefits of compost include providing nutrients to crops as fertilizer, acting as a soil conditioner, increasing the humus or humic acid contents of the soil, and introducing beneficial microbes that help to suppress pathogens in the soil and reduce soil-borne diseases.

Source：Wiki Compost

A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from liming materials or other non-nutrient soil amendments. Many sources of fertilizer exist, both natural and industrially produced. For most modern agricultural practices, fertilization focuses on three main macro nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) with occasional addition of supplements like rock flour for micronutrients. Farmers apply these fertilizers in a variety of ways: through dry or pelletized or liquid application processes, using large agricultural equipment or hand-tool methods.

Source：Wiki Fertilizer

The three primary elements of fertilizer, essential for plant growth and commonly referred to as macronutrients in the context of plant nutrition, are:

Nitrogen (N):
Function: Promotes leaf and stem growth, as it is a crucial component of chlorophyll, the compound that plants use in photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy. Nitrogen is also a key part of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
Deficiency Symptoms: Yellowing of leaves (chlorosis), stunted growth, and poor yield.

Phosphorus (P):
Function: Essential for energy transfer and storage in plants, as it is a component of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Phosphorus also plays a vital role in root development, flowering, and seed production.
Deficiency Symptoms: Dark green or purplish leaves, delayed maturity, and poor root development.

Potassium (K):
Function: Regulates various metabolic activities in plants, including photosynthesis, protein synthesis, and water regulation. Potassium is also important for improving disease resistance and overall plant health.
Deficiency Symptoms: Leaf edges may turn yellow or brown (scorching), weak stems, and reduced resistance to drought and diseases.
Fertilizers are often labeled with an N-P-K ratio, which indicates the relative proportions of these three essential nutrients. For example, a fertilizer labeled as 10-20-10 contains 10% nitrogen, 20% phosphorus, and 10% potassium.

Source：ChatGPT

• Material to be dry: Barley tea lees （Drying that others cannot）
• Purpose of drying: Upcycling, Reducing industrial waste cost and amount
• Moisture content: 72.3％W.B. before drying, 6.5％W.B. after drying
• Requirements for dryer: To prevent clogging inside the dryer caused by the stickiness and adhesiveness. Automated continuous operation with no operator attended.
  Machine cost can be recovered in short term.
• Test result: OK

Waste drying

Competitive comparison

One of the International Patented Technology that KENKI DRYER has is a self-cleaning structure called Steam Heated Twin Screw technology (SHTS technology). No matter how materials are sticky, adhesive and viscous is, they can be dried without clogging inside of the dryer because of this unique structure that no other products has.
For example, even materials stuck to the blades of one screw, blades of the other screw in the dryer’s body forcibly peels the materials off as they rotate. Since the blades rotate by peeling the material off each other, any sticky, adhesive and viscous material does not adhere to the blade, and the blades continue rotating, peeling, agitating and heating material without stopping while they carries material further. Also, since surface of blades are always renewed and kept clean, heat near the blades is not blocked and it is conducted directly into the materials.

Self-cleaning screw

KENKI DRYER has three main characteristics. They are 1) Any materials can be dried as expected including sticky, adhesive and viscous materials and raw material slurry that no other company can deal with, 2) dried material can by recycled or utilized as raw materials because of its low-temperature drying method, and 3) there is no need to assign operator since its continuous operating system makes 24 hours unattended operation possible.

Products

The unique and original drying mechanism of KENKI DRYER is also International Patented Technology. Because 4 drying mechanisms which are crashing drying, agitation drying, circulation drying and indirect drying work simultaneously and add heat to material being dried repeatedly and continuously, inner part of the material is dried thoroughly and quality of discharged material after drying is stable. This series of drying mechanisms prevents agglomeration which causes insufficient drying from feeding process of the material into the dryer until discharging process after drying completed. Various ingenuities to conduct heat surely into inner part of the materials are exercised and stable heating and drying are proceeded continuously.

Methods

Even KENKI DRYER uses only saturated steam as its heat source, it is outstanding in safety and hygiene point of view with its unique drying mechanism based on combined use of conductive heat transfer method and heated air method. Since steam is a stable heat source, quality of discharged material after drying is also stable and equable. Maximum allowed steam pressure is 0.7Mpa and adjustment of steam pressure, adjustment of drying temperature in other words, can be easily done. Saturated steam is commonly used in many factories so that it can be said as a familiar and handy heat source. In comparison with drying methods using burner or hot blasts, saturated steam method is an indirect drying applying heat exchange via pipes that steam is passing through, therefore, it hardly burns the materials and is outstanding in safety and hygiene point of view.

Heat source, Steam