Use indirect drying systems for gentle heating

Industrial drying machines apply either direct or indirect heating. The former category transfers the temperature to the materials and includes processing equipment like drying cabinets or fluid bed dryers.

Indirect drying solutions heat a fluid that, in turn, heats the drying chamber. This technology is often engineered for batch processing and is designed to avoid atmospheric exposure. Infrared and microwave solutions are both indirect drying systems.

Evaporate moisture from wet granules with fluidized bed dryers

Drying wet powders such as feed ingredients or ceramics present a unique challenge. The individual particles are coated by humidity, resulting in high moisture levels. But the materials cannot withstand aggressive heating methods.

Fluid bed dryers engineer a solution by blowing hot air through a perforated plate underneath the material. When the wet solids make contact with the airflow, the liquids are vaporized, leaving the particles in a dry state.

Skip the liquefaction of ice crystals with lyophilization techniques

Some materials, such as ingredients for biopharmaceuticals or primary bakery products, are delivered frozen. But treating them with heat risks altering their properties as ice crystals melt into liquid.

Freeze-dryers bypass that phase to keep the materials intact and dry. This technology is based on the sublimation principle, where a solid turns directly into vapor without first turning into a liquid. Lyophilization occurs when the material is placed under a deep vacuum and subjected to heat energy, transforming the ice into gas.

Radiation drying systems exploit long wavelengths to create an indirect heating

Radiation drying systems apply long wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum to heat and dehumidify material indirectly. In contrast, infrared heaters radiate absorbed water molecules to create a low-energy drying environment. The technique is optimal if you manufacture materials that require a short drying process, like water-based ink or active pharmaceutical ingredients. On the other hand, Microwave drying is an alternative radiation solution. The technology relies on the vibration of water molecules to generate energy, creating mild drying conditions for delicate products such as berries or flower extracts.