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The hydraulically driven discharge system continuously drops small quantities of product into the collecting hopper (or onto a second or third drying deck). At the same time the product bed is filled continuously by the inlet valve. Dryer exhaust air is recirculated back into the heater for maximum energy efficiency and only a limited volume of air is exhausted, at a high relative humidity.
Energy efficiency
The dryer is the largest consumer of energy in most processes. Employing the latest counterflow technology to replace an existing horizontal dryer you can save up to 50% on energy costs. Compared to the best horizontal dryers with recirculation, Geelen dryers save 15-25% on energy costs. Low cost horizontal dryers without air recirculation, consume up to 100% more energy.
With a Geelen dryer operators can check on-line the energy efficiency of the current drying profile.
Moisture uniformity
In order to get all product dried as close as possible to the acceptable maximum you need a dryer with a high moisture uniformity. Modern counterflow dryers can be configured for drying to a standard deviation as low as 0.25%.
Moisture uniformity over time
Even a dryer with perfect air flow design does not provide you with perfect results, unless it is capable of reacting automatically to changes in circumstances, such as temperature and humidity of the air, product flow rate and moisture % of wet product. Using on-line microwave moisture sensors, we can make sure the target moisture % is automatically achieved, under all circumstances.
Sanitation
There is nothing like gravity to make sure a dryer or cooler can be designed as clean and simple as possible. No gearboxes, chains, conveyors, belts or ledges. Just the hydraulically driven drying decks which release all product to the next stage.
All Geelen Counterflow dryers are built in double walled stainless steel, with fire resistant insulation material in between the inner and outer walls.
Maintenance costs
Maintenance costs for a Geelen Counterflow dryer are only a little higher than for a Geelen Counterflow cooler and significantly lower than for a horizontal dryer. 95% of all preventative maintenance can be done from the outside, minimising downtime.
Safety
25 years of research and development have cumulated in an extensive list of design optimisations and control system procedures aimed at minimising the risks of fire, explosions or other hazards for operators. A network of sensors and signals enables the PLC to trigger alarms if necessary, which eventually escalate to the shut down of burners/heaters, or the entire dryer.
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