15th May 2006
GEA Niro has recently introduced its new Integrated Filter Dryer (IFD™) for use
in the chemical industry. It has all the advantages of its FSD™
(Fluidized Spray Dryer) predecessors for the manufacture of dustless
agglomerated powders with improved flow and dispersal properties, but now with
an improved GMP and sanitary design, CIP-ability and product containment.
The new IFD™ has already proven its capabilities successfully throughout the
food industry and has now fulfilled all its goals for chemical production.
The IFD™ features a novel spray drying concept where all powder contact
functions, including spray drying, post drying and cooling, as well as
filtration of exhaust process gas, are incorporated into a single vessel. This
reduces the space requirement, makes the IFD™ easier to clean than previous
models, provides better product containment and gives more effective fire and
dust explosion protection.
A recent case study illustrates the importance of the IFD™ to the chemical
industry:
Recently, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fine chemicals needed
to expand its production capacity to satisfy increased demand for the company’s
food ingredients and pharmaceutical products. The existing production
facilities included a GEA Niro FSD™. There was insufficient space to accommodate
another FSD™ plant, and the additional costs of a new building would seriously
reduce the profitability of the production expansion.
To solve the problem GEA Niro suggested the IFD™. A detailed pilot plant
investigation was performed proving that the IFD™-product quality was
compatible with that from the existing FSD™, and detailed lay-out study
demonstrated that the IFD™ could be housed within the available building. The
IFD™ plant has now been constructed, installed, successfully started up and
handed over to production.
Further information on the IFDTM and other GEA Niro products is
available on the GEA Niro web site on: www.niro.com and through your local GEA Niro
contact.