The industrial method through which dried powder is produced from a slurry or liquid is termed as spray drying. The slurry or liquid here is dried by the use of a hot gas, at a very rapid speed. Many different kinds of materials can also be combined and subsequently processed through spray drying, so as to form a free-flowing and homogeneous powder.
Many of the substances and materials that are sensitive to heat in the Pharmaceutical or Food Industry are dried through spray drying. While air acts as the drying medium in most cases, nitrogen may also be used when the liquid to be dried is flammable or sensitive to oxygen. Here, the process including stages of spray drying is being explored in a discreet manner.
The Process Of Spray Drying and More –
The slurry is made by mixing the solid materials and the liquid solution, and it is subsequently introduced (through the rotating atomizer wheel) into a stream of hot air. Nozzles may also be used for introducing the slurry, but the atomizer wheel can provide for a better and broader distribution of the particle size. Control is one of the important features and aspect of this process and the particle size distribution is closely and consistently controlled, as long as the granules formation occurs.
Technology And Process Of Spray Drying
There are only few spray drying companies providing this services to customers as operating conditions needed are quite hard to maintain. The spray drying techniques are used for drying millions of kilograms and pounds of different substances and materials every year. The technology today supports both large and small scale production amounts and can accommodate easily a comprehensive variety of different mixing, storage, atomization, and packaging options.
Product quality is improved and made consistent during the alarm spray drying technique and process, by closely monitoring and controlling many different operating aspects and conditions including wheel, speed, temperature, pump pressure, and others. These factors can be varied in a subtle or profound manner, so as to heed to the needs and requirements of all customers specifically. Moisture content, size distribution, and density of the bulk are also monitored.
Today many different kinds of liquids are used words the formation of slurry but some organizations often use and process mixtures that have an aqueous base. Several companies are capable of preparing slurries on your production site itself and can also do bulk production by using the bulk tankers that contain the materials that have been mixed beforehand. The requirements of each customer are carefully noted and the production or the formation of powder granules is done in batches, which is also termed as toll spray drying.
But the spray drying process does not give the end product. The granule or powder obtained from the substances and materials are screened further and the distribution of the particle size is refined. The end packaging is done as per the needs and specifications of the customer and the powder is packed in the specified container.