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An Introduction To Steam-Atmosphere Drying
An Introduction To Steam-Atmosphere Drying
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team-atmosphere drying recirculates rather than vents The convection dryer’s efficiency can be improved by re-
the exhaust stream and provides free heat for other cycling some of the moist exhaust air — together with its
processes in your plant, making the method signifi- energy (in the form of waste heat) — back to the dryer
cantly more efficient than convection drying. It offers other inlet. Recycling the exhaust air increases the humidity in
advantages over convection drying, too, including providing the dryer. This, in turn, requires a higher operating temper-
better control of particulate emissions and odors and provid- ature and results in a higher final product temperature than
ing an inert drying atmosphere that eliminates fire and explo- in a completely open-circuit convection-drying operation.
sion risks.
Steam-atmosphere drying. Steam-atmosphere drying about 250°F to 300°F (120°C to 150°C). A typical steam-
Figure 1
Rotary drum
steam-atmosphere
dryer
Steam vented
to evaporator
Wet
feed Steam
recirculated
through heat
exchanger
and dryer
Evaporator
Courtesy SWISS COMBI, Dintikon, Switzerland.
Dry
product
Noncondensible
vapors returned
to furnace
Fuel and
primary air
Heat
Burner exchanger
Furnace
h-Anhydro-32-39:C-Masters_old 5/16/08 8:48 AM Page 3
Dryer configurations allows twice the use of the dryer’s original energy input.