There Is an Art to Effective Drying

There is an art to effective drying, and the more information you can bring to the table when purchasing a dryer, the better equipped a manufacturer or distributor will be to assist you in finding the perfect convection dryer for your industrial process. Convection drying is an essential element in many industrial processes such as chemical, agricultural, biotechnology, food and pharmaceutical, and each has a specific set of requirements for how, when and to what extent heat is applied during the drying process. As a result, when designing an industrial process line, you’ll have a variety of convection dryers from which to choose. To help you streamline your search and identify the dryer best suited for your needs, here are seven things to know before starting to shop. Though not a complete list, this should give you a good base from which to start your product research. 1. Consider the Drying Process How heat will be applied to the product or material is the first step in determining the type of convection dryer you will need. Drying process configurations include conveyor, flash, rotary, spray or tray — each with advantages and disadvantages for drying specific types of materials at set speeds. For example, a conveyor dryer will not work well for a material that needs exposure to intense heat for several hours. Determine what type of drying process will work best to efficiently remove the required amount of moisture from your product or material. If you are unsure, consult a representative at a trusted dryer manufacturer or distributor. 2. Understand the Product or Material Characteristics Drying large surface areas and removing water trapped within dense objects typically requires greater heat concentration than smaller, more porous products. In addition, how and to what extent heat is applied varies depending on the product or material’s form (e. g. granular, paste, solid) and heat capacity. Too much heat exposure can change the product or material’s consistency, shape or chemical makeup. Know the size, porosity, form and heat capacity of the product or material to be dried. This will dictate the strength, heat-output capacity and number of dryers needed to thoroughly remove moisture. 3. Calculate the Length of the Drying Process The length of time your product or material needs to be exposed to heat to thoroughly dry will affect your dryer options. More intense drying processes like ceramics drying require a well-insulated, high heat-output dryer. By contrast, removing excess water on a bottle as it passes through a production line can be done much more quickly with higher air-volume heat sources. Be ready to give accurate timeframes in which the material needs to be exposed to heat to dry thoroughly. 4. Select Based on Operating Times and Frequency Different dryers are designed for different usage frequencies, and selecting a continuous dryer when you need one that frequently starts and stops, or vice versa, will lead to breakdowns. This can cost you in ongoing repairs and production process downtime. Be prepared to discuss the flow of your industrial process and the frequency demands that will be placed on your dryer. 5. Position Effectively How and where the dryer will be positioned matters. Dryers come in many sizes and have varying requirements for installation, including dimensions, attachment-screw placement, air-supply specifications and vibration restrictions. Be prepared to provide a detailed overview of the space in which the dryer will be placed as well as environmental elements that may impact the dryer’s performance such as vibrating mechanisms or dust. 6. Contemplate Control Requirements Dryers can be controlled through internal knobs and dials or via an external control interface, allowing them to be integrated into open- or closed-loop systems. Have a clear understanding of how your dryer needs to be controlled. If it will be part of a closed-loop system, know what type of feedback data needs to be available. 7. Account for Budget Dryer prices can range from a couple hundred to several thousands of dollars. By establishing a budget ahead of time, you can more effectively weed out options before you get too far into the sales process. However, proceed with caution. When shopping for an industrial dryer, do not decide solely based on which option is least expensive right now. Cutting costs today may result in more money spent in repairs and replacement parts over the dryer’s lifetime. In addition, powerful, high-heat, high-air volume dryers demand a significant source of energy. Overtime, these energy costs will add up and affect production costs. Keep lifetime costs in mind; make sure the dryer you arere considering can operate efficiently within a predetermined electricity-consumption range. Source: Process Heating