Manufacturing involves the use of very distinctive machines and materials, all with a focus on delivering the best product value and experience. There are always challenges when it comes to offering the best results, and that’s why a product like the fluid bed dryer or the spray dryer can bring in some nice benefits. They are very dependable, and while some might think they are almost identical, that’s not the case. There are some differences you need to take into consideration when it comes to their role and how they work.
Spray Drying
The industrial spray dryer is very distinctive because it involves both drying and particle formation. During this process, you have the feed getting transformed into droplets from its fluid state. Then it’s brought into dried particle form via spraying it into a hot drying medium. Just like the fluid bed dryer, the spray dryer is actually a suspended particle processing operation.
However there is a difference here, and the main one is that the resistance time is around 5 to 100s for spray drying when compared to 1 to 300 min for the fluidized bed drying solution. So yes, this is much faster and it helps bring in front great results. It does manage to work extremely well, and the benefits as a whole are nothing short of impressive.
During spray drying, you have the feed atomization which is going into a drying medium, all resulting in the moisture evaporation process. Then drying continues until you reach the right moisture level. This is controlled by the air input conditions and product conditions. In the end, the product gets recovered from the air.
Another difference between the spray dryer and the fluid bed dryer is the particle size. The first one has 100 to 500 pm, whereas the fluid bed dryer has 100 to 3000 um. So yes, there are specific differences, especially when it comes to the feed characteristics and resistance as well. All of those can indeed make a huge difference while pushing the limits in a very creative manner.
Spray dryers have different parts, including the air heater, atomizer, control systems, air disperser, dust recovery system, and feed pumps. These are pivotal to ensure everything is working as expected. And yes, thankfully you can find replacement parts in case any issue arises.
Fluid Bed Dryer
The fluid bed dryer is equipment that’s used to reduce the moisture content of granules and powders. The process uses feed material fluidization. In doing so, hot air is added at high pressure via a perforated bed with moist, solid articles. Then the wet solids get lifted from the bottom and then they are suspended in the air stream. Once that is done, the heat transfer is accomplished since you get direct contact between the hot gasses and the wet solid. In some cases, if you want to save energy, you can recycle the exit gas, at least partially.
Which Is The Better Option?
Both the fluid bed dryer and spray dryer are great in their own right. However, the fluid bed dryer is a little better since it has lower maintenance costs, high thermal efficiency, and a high moisture removal rate. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, but it certainly has its fair share of challenges you need to take into consideration. We encourage you to take your time, assess both the spray dryer and fluid bed dryer, then see which one fits your needs the most. They have unique, interesting capabilities, and that help deliver an incredible range of results. All you have to do is to assess and adapt accordingly.