Numerical Study toward Optimization of Spray Drying in a Novel Radial Multizone Dryer

Umair Jamil Ur Rahman, Artur Krzysztof Pozarlik, Thomas Tourneur, Axel de Broqueville, Juray De Wilde and Gerrit Brem
Additional contact information
Umair Jamil Ur Rahman: Thermal Engineering Group, Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Artur Krzysztof Pozarlik: Thermal Engineering Group, Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Thomas Tourneur: Materials & Process Engineering Division, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Axel de Broqueville: Materials & Process Engineering Division, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Juray De Wilde: Materials & Process Engineering Division, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Gerrit Brem: Thermal Engineering Group, Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: In this paper, an intensified spray-drying process in a novel Radial Multizone Dryer (RMD) is analyzed by means of CFD. A three-dimensional Eulerian–Lagrangian multiphase model is applied to investigate the effect of solids outlet location, relative hot/cold airflow ratio, and droplet size on heat and mass transfer characteristics, G-acceleration, residence time, and separation efficiency of the product. The results indicate that the temperature pattern in the dryer is dependent on the solids outlet location. A stable, symmetric spray behavior with maximum evaporation in the hot zone is observed when the solids outlet is placed at the periphery of the vortex chamber. The maximum product separation efficiency (85 wt %) is obtained by applying high G-acceleration (at relative hot/cold ratio of 0.75) and narrow droplet size distribution (45–70 µm). The separation of different sized particles with distinct drying times is also observed. Smaller particles (<32 µm) leave the reactor via the gas outlet, while the majority of big particles leave it via the solids outlet, thus depicting in situ particle separation. The results revealed the feasibility and benefits of a multizone drying operation and that the RMD can be an attractive solution for spray drying technology.

Keywords: spray drying; vortex chamber; process intensification; CFD; Radial Multizone Dryer; Eulerian–Lagrangian; high-G acceleration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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