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Solids Drying: Basics and Applications
Solids Drying: Basics and Applications
Solids Drying: Basics and Applications
Cover Story
Report Part 2
Rate of dryying
for removing moisture
C
from solids B
C
D
Dilip M. Parikh
DPharma Group Inc. Time Moisture content
A
Figure 1. Segment AB of the graph represents the constant-rate drying period,
djustment and control of mois- while segment BC is the falling-rate period
ture levels in solid materials
through drying is a critical
process in the manufacture of This article provides basic infor- is determined by the set of factors
many types of chemical products. As mation on the sometimes compli- that affect heat and mass transfer.
a unit operation, drying solid mate- cated heat- and mass-transfer pro- Solids drying is generally under-
rials is one of the most common and cesses that are important in drying, stood to follow two distinct drying
important in the chemical process and discusses several technologies zones, known as the constant-rate
industries (CPI), since it is used in used to accomplish the task. period and the falling-rate period.
practically every plant and facility The two zones are demarcated by a
that manufactures or handles solid Mechanism of drying break point called the critical mois-
materials, in the form of powders Drying may be defined as the va- ture content.
and granules. porization and removal of water In a typical graph of moisture
The effectiveness of drying pro- or other liquids from a solution, content versus drying rate and
cesses can have a large impact on suspension, or other solid-liquid moisture content versus time (Fig-
product quality and process effi- mixture to form a dry solid. It is a ure 1), section AB represents the
ciency in the CPI. For example, in complicated process that involves constant-rate period. In that zone,
the pharmaceutical industry, where simultaneous heat and mass trans- moisture is considered to be evapo-
drying normally occurs as a batch fer, accompanied by physicochemi- rating from a saturated surface at
process, drying is a key manufac- cal transformations. Drying occurs a rate governed by diffusion from
turing step. The drying process can as a result of the vaporization of the surface through the station-
impact subsequent manufacturing liquid by supplying heat to wet feed- ary air film that is in contact with
steps, including tableting or encap- stock, granules, filter cakes and so it. This period depends on the air
sulation and can influence critical on. Based on the mechanism of heat temperature, humidity and speed
quality attributes of the final dos- transfer that is employed, drying is of moisture to the surface, which in
age form. categorized into direct (convection), turn determine the temperature of
Apart from the obvious require- indirect or contact (conduction), ra- the saturated surface. During the
ment of drying solids for a subse- diant (radiation) and dielectric or constant rate period, liquid must be
quent operation, drying may also microwave (radio frequency) drying. transported to the surface at a rate
be carried out to improve handling Heat transfer and mass transfer sufficient to maintain saturation.
characteristics, as in bulk powder are critical aspects in drying pro- At the end of the constant rate
filling and other operations involv- cesses. Heat is transferred to the period, (point B, Figure 1), a break
ing powder flow; and to stabilize product to evaporate liquid, and in the drying curve occurs. This
moisture-sensitive materials, such mass is transferred as a vapor into point is called the critical moisture
as pharmaceuticals. the surrounding gas. The drying rate content, and a linear fall in the dry-
42 Chemical Engineering www.che.com April 2014
Flow control
valve
Feed system
Sterile filter
Heater
N2
Pressure
control
valve Chamber