Industrial dryers – What are they used for?

Industrial dryers are used to, simply put, make humid or wet objects or surfaces dry in a short period of time. This is the baseline for the functioning of industrial driers. The faster the process, the more efficient the industrial dryer, in principle. Yet, to be able to fully understand the production and offer of industrial type, we should also consider the product being dried.

Some more factors that can impact the effect of the drying process, are the size of the industrial dryer, the heat that it produces and the level of moisture of the product being dried. We should furthermore bear in mind any production requirements and legal obligations that we should cater for in our processes.

Have a look at the table below to be able to determine, what are the characteristics of industrial dryers that you should take note of.

Use and purpose: Companies should determine the purposes of using industrial dryers. Are you producing something, which should be dried in the actual process?

• Sector: The answer to the above question will be determined by the industry branch that your company is active in. Be it in machinery and engineering, the food production or the sciences, industrial dryers can take several forms according to the shape and build of the product
• Equipment: In case of additional specific needs, purpose-built equipment can complement the industrial type. This ensures adaptability and raises the level of productivity
• Layout: Depending on the set-up of your production line, the layout of the industrial type will be adapted accordingly. This means that it can spread horizontally or vertically, thus catering for your specific needs

A continuous dryer can be over twenty metres long

As the name itself suggests, a continuous dryer can ensure a longer, continuous flow of the conveyor belt, on which the products to be dries are put. This flow should be uninterrupted throughout the process. The continuous dryer has several different chambers, through which the flow will pass. In each chamber, less moisture remains in the substance. At the end of the line, a buffer tank can collect the end products.

Alternatively, they can already be fed into the final packaging or built into subsequent products. Wet or humid material or products should be always fed to the conveyor belt at the start of the flow to ensure a consistent load. This is one of the reasons why not every production process is suitable for the continuous type.

The quantity of the products needs to be stable, consistent, and relatively high. If there’s too much fluctuation, or if the volume is too low, there will be no continuum in the running of the continuous type, resulting in the need to stop the machine. The producers should therefore reflect before making the investment on its sustainability.

 

A chamber dryer is used in food industry

A chamber dryer therefore makes use of a phase-based approach to drying, whereas the products pass through different chambers. What are the different possibilities for its use?

• Industrial applications. Chamber dryers can be found in many drying applications, sterilization processes or other industrial uses, like heating and burning.
• Science and laboratories. Science-based companies often require chamber types for processes under very strictly controlled conditions, such as temperature testing, or accelerated ageing testing in the framework of material testing.
• Food industry. Perhaps the most commonly known purpose of chamber drying is for food-related purposes, such as curing meats or drying fruits.

A well-made rotary dryer can save your drying costs

The rotary dryer uses two processes – drying and rotation – for a faster effect. Through rotation, the material is exposed to sources of heat, which accelerates dehumidification. The heat stems from a combustion furnace. Usually, this type of device consists of a slightly inclined large cylinder on a (usually concrete) base. This makes the discharge of products easier.

The most usual products this type is used with are coal (stemming from coal mines) and clay, representing non-metallic minerals. It is useful in the food-and-feed production, too, such as for drying rice and the alfalfa feed for livestock. As such, a well-chosen industrial device can help lower the production costs at your company. This occurs because of the following:

• Thermal efficiency: The transfer of heat remains unchanged throughout the process of drying. This significantly speeds up the process of dehumidification.
• High rate of dried material: Due to the stable process of drying, the dyers can accommodate significant quantities of the material that should be dried. For companies producing higher amounts, this is forthcoming.
• Stability of the drying process: The predictability of the production is not affected by the fluctuations of the drying process.

 

No matter what your production specifics are, our company has extensive experience in finding the right choice for our partners.