Lignite is a kind of low rank coal with high moisture content,
ranging typically from 50 to 70% by weight on a wet coal basis,
which reduces 20–25% of the energy efficiency of combustion in removing
this associated water. Therefore, lignite drying is the first
and essential step for their transportation, storage, and utilization
as energy resources. Owing to many excellent transport properties
like solid mixing and the heat and mass transfers between gas and
solid phases, fluidized bed dryer has successfully been used for drying
of low rank coals such as Illinois coal [1], Turkish lignite [2],
Chinese Shenhua lignite [3], Loy Yang brown coal [4] and
Victorian brown coal [5].