Granular,
non-sticky materials can be fluidized with relative ease. Our sugar
dryers are typical. We have done dryers ranging from 2 tons per hour
to 40 tons per hour.
To
our engineers credit, they have handled difficult materials with innovative methods. For Latex, a
combination of drying to remove residual moisture followed by hot air vulcanization
was suggested. This was executed in a circular batch type
dryer.
For
a medicinal herbs installation, trials showed that a high initial
temperature is required for deactivation of enzymes, followed by a gentler
drying to retain the core ingredients. The problem was tackled by
using a thermic fluid heat source and a PLC control for the batch dryer,
regulating the temperature progressively.
Our
Halquinol dryer has been a notable success. Earlier installations by third parties failed due to
the unique nature of the material - It is very sticky at high moistures
(which can reach 45%), and sublimes when heated above 65oC.
Our
engineers worked out a process where dry material was blended with the wet
product, reducing the moisture to 30%, then dried after granulation.
