The pressurized steam fluid bed dryer PSFB operates as a completely closed drying system. It represents the most cost effective and environmentally friendly drying system for handling vast quantities of moist, fibrous materials produced in brewing, food, and sugar processing.
Other successful applications of this fluid bed include the drying of wood based bio-fuels, while the use of pre-dried fuel significantly improves boiler efficiencies.
Some applications of the fluid bed include:
- Co-products from starch production
- Distiller's dried grain and substrate
- Wood based bio-fuels
The main characteristics of steam drying are:
- A completely closed drying system
- No air pollution
- No vapour, dust or odour.
- Recovery of energy. More than 90 % of the energy used in
drying the product is recovered as 2-4 bar steam
- Improved product
- No product oxidation
- No flue gas contamination
- No product losses
Operating mode
Superheated steam has long been recognized as a drying medium that offers important advantages in terms of energy consumption, environmentally friendly processing, and dried product quality for a range of selected materials. This potential has been fully utilized by the latest designs of GEA Niro pressurized fluid bed dryers.
The pressurized steam circulating within the dryer is formed by moisture evaporated from the feed material. Excess pressurized steam is continuously discharged for use elsewhere in the factory to obtain maximum heat recovery.
GEA Niro, Denmark, and BMA AG, Bruanschweig, Germany, has entered into a licence agreement. BMA AG has been granted the exclusive right to sell and supply GEA Niro's pressurized steam fluid bed dryer (PSFB) to manufacturers in the sugar industry world-wide.
References
Although the pressurized steam fluid bed is a relatively new technology, GEA Niro has installed several commercial sized steam fluid bed dryers, which process sugar beet pulp, as well as wood based bio-fuels, and bio-sludge.