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Thermal Solids Processing

Thermal solids processing technology innovations

In many dry material processing systems, thermal treatment of the bulk product is required. It is often necessary to heat the product during a production process, for example for crystallization, degassing, prevention of condensation, drying of internal or external moisture, or preparation for downstream thermal processing sections (such as extrusion). Bulk solids cooling is a common step in many industrial processes.

Screw heat exchanger bulk solids innovations

Whether it is volatiles removal, calcination, controlled atmospheres treatment, or something else, thermal processing technologies are bringing a lot of opportunities to add value to the common and specialized materials.

Thermal processing refers to changing the temperature of a material resulting in changing its state in some way. The thermal processing technology is used in heavy manufacturing industries for processing metals and materials, as well as for industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and many other applications.

Plate heating transfer technology has transitioned to the forefront of bulk-solids heating, cooling, and drying. It has found use in unlikely places such as polymers, chemicals, and even olive pits.

Plate heat exchangers offer indirect heat transfer because the two streams are separated. This means contamination between the stream being heated, cooled, or dried, and the effect of the heat transfer does not occur. Using bulk heat exchangers for heating or cooling material indirectly results in removing the risk of contamination and reducing the need for ventilation or dust collectors.

Heat exchanger industries

Bulk solids heat exchangers can be used in different multiple industrial sectors, such as the chemical industry for cooling fertilizers, the food industry for cooling sugar, coffee, and more. They can also be used in the metallurgical industry for cooling foundry sand, but also in the energy industry for heating vegetable seeds.

 

Bulk solid coolers are engineered to efficiently cool a variety of free-flowing bulk solids such as fertilizer, chemicals, plastics, dried biosolids, minerals, and many other types of granular, crystals and powders.

The basis of the bulk solids cooler technology is the gravity flow of product moving through a bank of heat exchanger plates cooled with water.

Bulk solids cooling generally occurs near the end of the processing sequence when powders or bulk solids must be cooled before storage or packaging to allow for safe handling and storage. Bulk solids cooling can be necessary if the production temperature is high, but the solids are processed downstream at a lower temperature.

The cooling process

The heart of the bulk solids cooler is the bank of exchanger plates. The product to be cooled moves slowly between the plates. Cooling water flows through the plates in counter flow and the product is cooled by conduction. Mass flow of the product is achieved using a discharge feeder mounted as an essential part of the exchanger below the plate bank.

Drying solid materials is one of the most common and important in the chemical process industries since it is used in essentially every plant and facility that manufactures solid materials, in the form of powders and granules.

Drying is defined as the removal of water or other liquids from a solution, suspension by vaporizing it. It is a complicated process that involves both heat and mass transfer simultaneously, together with physicochemical transformations. Drying occurs as a result of the vaporization of liquid by supplying heat to wet granules, feedstock, filter cakes. and so on. Based on the mechanism of heat transfer that is employed, drying is categorized into direct, indirect, radiant, and dielectric or microwave drying.

Solid Drying Methods

Where fluid bed dryers are the most popular choice, they mainly handle solid feeds composed of discrete particles. There are other popular methods for drying solids materials, such as flash, tray, rotary tray, and then the fluid bed dryers.

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Experts for Thermal Solids Processing

Tim is a distinguished Sales Director and Chemical Engineer with an illustrious career spanning 38 years at Winkworth Machinery, where he has honed his expertise and knowledge in mixing technology for solids and semi-solids mixing applications. Tim’s expertise encompasses a wide spectrum of applications, from pharmaceuticals and chemicals to food and cosmetics, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability in solving complex mixing challenges. He has actively contributed to industry organisations, sharing his knowledge and insights with colleagues and aspiring engineers. His dedication to mentoring the next generation of engineers is a testament to his commitment to the future of mixing technology.
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As the Sales Manager at Foeth, Michel Terlouw possesses an enthusiasm for international trade and excels in identifying the perfect match for every customer. In a company like Foeth, individuals with a solid technical background are truly indispensable. Clients from across the globe visit to explore our extensive inventory of pre-owned machines, and it’s essential to collaborate closely with each customer to determine which machine best suits their intended application. Michel is impassioned by the collaborative process of discovering the ideal machine alongside the customer because it aligns with our mission. The pursuit of finding the perfect solution is not only gratifying but also contributes to advancing sustainability within the industry.
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Matthew Bailey – Technical Lead

Matthew is a mechanical engineer holding an honours degree from the Auckland University of Technology and has been responsible for BFM® Global’s product development, testing and compliance programme for almost 5 years. Matt’s experience is centered on the powder handling industry with a specific focus on flexible connectors, and all the compliance requirements around them. From food to pharmaceutical and all industries in between, Matt works with our Distributor partners, end users and OEMs from Europe, Asia and the Americas to solve application challenges. He regularly attends industry tradeshows around the world and understands the complex requirements of each different market.
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More than 30 years’ experience in development and realisation projects as a project manager for feed, aqua feed and petfood. Working at Dinnissen for 20 years as account manager in feed, aqua feed and petfood division. Specialist in developing major projects with added value focussing on pneumatic conveying, mixing, drying, grinding and coating with liquid and powder systems.
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Sunny Nwadinma is the Senior Applications Engineer at Kason Corporation. He covers product lines of circular fluidized-bed dryers, coolers and moisturizers, circular vibratory and centrifugal sifters, and static sieve screeners. He studied Engineering Technology at Essex Community College and studied Mechanical Engineering and Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He holds certificates from the Dale Carnegie course on fluidized-bed technology from the University of Wisconsin, and the Effective Facilitator Course offered by the Leadership Strategies Institute.
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Arie Srugo was born in 1960 to the late Yaakov Srugo, who established his first factory for the production of industrial machinery in 1954 in Argentina.Ltd. “. In the mid-1970s, the factory was moved to the southern town of Netivot. Arie Srugo was employed in the factory as a salesman from the age of 16 and “pumped” into it the knowledge regarding machines for industry from an early age. In 1981, after his release from regular service in the army, Arie Srugo joined the company and was appointed its VP of Marketing. As part of his role as VP of Marketing and as CEO of the company, Arie Srugo has accumulated vast knowledge regarding industrial equipment in general and mixing equipment in particular. The company under his management began to export its machines all over the world and gained a great reputation among the companies in Israel. As part of his extensive activity in the field, Arie Srugo engaged in consulting, characterization, process planning, and adaptation of various industrial equipment to the company’s many customers. In addition, the company engaged in the planning and management of entire projects that the PerMix company undertook. Here in fact began to accumulate vast knowledge and experience in the field of planning and management of projects in the field of process for industry. PerMix, headed by Arie Srugo, has also managed projects abroad in various and varied fields. Throughout PerMix’s years of operation, the company has grown from primarily manufacturing under OEM contracts, building some of the largest brands in the industry, to complete, turn-key processing lines under the PerMix name.
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