The IFD™ (Integrated Filter Dryer) from GEA Niro
What is the IFD™ (Integrated Filter Dryer)?
The IFD™ (Integrated Filter Dryer) is a combination of well proven unit operations from other GEA Niro dryers. The introduction of the IFD™ to the Food & Dairy industry in 2002 – where a semi-industrial pilot plant was started up – proved once again that when it comes to new ideas within spray drying, GEA Niro is in front.
The IFD™ plant features:
• The integrated back-mix bed as used in the MSD™ plant
• The ring-formed plug-flow fluid bed as used in the COMPACT DRYER™.
• The CIP-able filter bag principle known from the SANICIP™ bag filter is now integrated inside the drying chamber.
• The feed system with concentrate preheating known from the MSD™ (Multi-Stage Dryer) and TALL FORM DRYER™.
All this is combined into one unit with the following advantages:
• There are no ducts with powder loaded air. CIP has thus been drastically simplified- CIP-time shortened and BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) load lowered.
• The low pressure loss across the filters makes the plant less noisy and it consumes less energy.
• No flexible connections, where powder can accumulate.
• The IFD™ plant requires 20-30 % less building volume. Total investment is therefore lower.
A new air disperser concept developed by GEA Niro
GEA Niro has also developed a completely new air disperser concept, which operates at a very low pressure loss and yet distributes the drying air around the nozzles a lot better than any other air disperser known to date. And that again means lower energy consumption.
The nozzle lances are very short and operator friendly. They are easily adjusted to change product structure from non-agglomerated regular powders to agglomerated powders instantly soluble in cold water. And the nozzle's/fine's return is easily monitored by a set of cameras, so that the operators from the control room can watch the spray continuously.
Read more about the IFD™ (Integrated Filter Dryer) here.
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