Spray-drying
In the world of industrial spray drying, the spray drying nozzle is central. This technology nebulizes liquids into microscopic droplets, which are then exposed to high temperatures in a drying chamber. As a result, the liquids evaporate almost instantly, creating uniform particles.
In modern factories, engineers and scientists continuously optimize the spray drying process. They use advanced equipment to carefully control factors such as droplet size, air velocity, and temperature. The Click&Dry product line offers the latest and best innovation in spray drying. The result? An efficient process that is applied in various industries, from food processing to pharmaceutical production.
Processing of milk, cheese, or other food and chemical products
The basic process of spray drying begins with concentrating the food material in liquid form. This is then atomized under high pressure, creating small droplets that consist of both the liquid and the particles. The liquid is then evaporated using hot gas, leaving only the dry particles behind.
Spray drying ensures an even distribution of the flow and the particles in the drying chamber, with the sprayed medium being a solution, slurry, paste, gel, or suspension. The process produces droplets between 30-120 microns, which increases the surface area and significantly accelerates drying. Due to the increase in surface area, the water or liquid evaporates much faster than with other drying methods. In spray drying towers, evaporation is often 95% complete within seconds. This makes spray drying one of the fastest and most energy-efficient drying methods, suitable for various industrial applications.
Common applications of spray drying in various industries
- Milk industry: (coffee) milk powder, cheese, whey, and baby formula
- Food industry ingredients: instant coffee, edible proteins, instant soup, baked goods, yeast, and other extracts
- Chemical industry: polycarbonate and polyvinyl products, and many other organic and inorganic chemicals. Ceramics, soaps, and detergents, agricultural products, dyes, mineral and ore products, and cellulose.
Different Pressures and Temperatures
Any liquid that can be pumped can also be spray-dried, including raw materials that are abrasive, corrosive, flammable, explosive, or toxic. Since applications are so varied, a wide range of spray-drying nozzles is available.
For many industries, a nozzle operating at a pressure of 200–275 bar and a temperature of 80–200°C is sufficient. This is ideal for most standard applications. However, for other sectors, such as those outside the food industry, higher pressures or temperatures may be required, reaching up to 700 bar or more than 300°C. These higher demands are often found in demanding industrial applications, such as in the chemical and metallurgical sectors.
Specific spray-drying applications may require customized geometries or materials for the nozzles to ensure optimal performance. Therefore, close collaboration between our manufacturer and your company may be essential to deliver the right nozzles. We ensure that these nozzles meet the required flow rate, spray angle, material choice, and the specific temperatures and pressures your processes demand.
With a wide range of carriers, discs, and spray orifices, we can supply nozzles that fully align with your specific needs. This not only helps optimize performance but also prevents issues such as beard formation and other inefficiencies, significantly improving the effectiveness of your spray and drying systems.
Consultancy & Custom Solutions
We are happy to advise you on the various possibilities of spray drying, tailored to your specific needs and process requirements. Take advantage of the extensive expertise of our specialists, who are eager to guide you and think along with you to find the optimal solution. Whether it's standard applications or custom solutions, we are ready to offer you the right solution. Please contact us for personalized advice and more information on how we can help you implement spray drying in your processes.
