The process
Milk powder, coffee and flavour spray dryers use filtered, heated supply air and an exhaust fan after cyclones and a bag filter. Hygienic construction, stainless steel, and a wheel that can be washed down.
The gas at the fan
Exhaust from a spray dryer carries fine product that is hygroscopic and sticks to any surface below dew point. A blade form that sheds deposit, insulation on the casing and easy access for cleaning.
Selection for this duty
| Blade form | Radial tipped, or backward inclined where the fan sits after the collector |
| Material of construction | Stainless steel wetted parts, with drains in the casing and a shaft seal |
| Drive and bearings | Direct coupled or belt driven; belt drive where the duty point may need tuning at site |
| Also specified | Access doors on the scroll and a wheel that can be cleaned in place; casing drain at the lowest point |
| Density at the fan | At about 100°C the gas density is close to 0.95 kg/m³, 79% of standard air. Pressure developed and power drawn fall in the same ratio, so the selection is made at this density and the motor is checked at cold start. |
Circulates or supplies air at elevated temperature to a dryer, oven or kiln. Selected at the hot density with the shaft and bearing arrangement built for continuous hot running. Client-stated blade types for the Hot Air Fan in general: Backward curved and backward inclined.
Industries
Other fans in food and dairy spray dryers
Hot Air Fan in other processes
Services on this fan
Information needed to select or quote
- Duty point. Volume flow and static pressure at the fan inlet, with the gas density and temperature or the conditions to derive it.
- Operating conditions. Site altitude, normal operating temperature and continuous or intermittent duty.
- Gas stream. Dust loading and particle size, corrosive species, moisture, upset temperature and any tendency of the material to deposit on the impeller.
- Mechanical. Rotation viewed from the drive end, discharge orientation and motor power.
