The GEA Niro solutions for the drying of ceramics are designed to
meet each product specification for advanced ceramics.
Over the years, GEA Niro has supplied numerous tailor-made drying plants for
the drying of ceramics. The spray drying and operating conditions are selected
to meet each ceramic product specification of moisture content, bulk density,
particle size distribution, etc. in order to obtain a reproducible free-flowing
granulate for the production of ceramic press-body of high uniform quality in
one single operation.
Technologies used for the drying of ceramics
Different
ceramics can be dried using technology from GEA Niro. The right solution depends on the
feedstock and the required powder properties.
- Spray Dryers
GEA Niro’s single-stage spray drying systems for production of fine to
medium coarse powders. The spray dryer can be equipped with either a rotary
atomizer or a nozzle atomizer.
- SWIRL FLUIDIZER™
GEA Niro’s SWIRL FLUIDIZER™ for turning filter
cakes and the most viscous liquids into fine powders in a single step. For
drying at gentle or high temperatures. The spray drying plants provided by GEA
Niro for the drying of ceramics are designed with an abrasion resistant feed
system and nozzle or rotary atomizer in order to meet today’s environmental
restrictions related to restrictions on dust emission. The larger sized GEA
Niro spray drying plants can be equipped with energy recovery systems that
reduce the heating costs.
GEA Niro is able to supply open and closed cycle dryers
For both traditional and advanced high-tech ceramics, GEA Niro has
supplied a number of plants with spray dryers with either an open or closed
cycle drying concept. The transformation of a water-based ceramic slip
specified with high solids content, binder and lubricant into a controlled
droplet distribution using rotary wheel or nozzle atomization is mainly
performed in open concepts with ambient air as the once-through process air.
Closed cycle dryers with inert gas as process gas are used to prevent
oxidation degradation or to operate safely with organic solvent-based ceramics.
The flammable solvent evaporated from the feed formulation is fully recovered
as liquid in a wet scrubber/condenser system.
Examples of drying solutions for ceramics:
For drying
of ferrites (iron oxides), GEA Niro spray dryers with rotary atomizers or
nozzle atomizers are typically used. The rotary atomizer provides a finer
powder whereas the nozzle atomizer provides a coarser powder.
Other types of ceramics dried on technology from GEA Niro:
- Aluminium oxides
- Electroporcelain
- Ferrites
- Silicium oxides
- Titanates
- Etc.