Dryer Type Mechanism Advantages Disadvantages Extra Notes
Tray/Shelf Dryer Direct drying Simple; Cheap; Requires large space; Used for tablet
(convection) Suitable for heat- High labor cost; Long granules; Fitted with
using hot air stable materials. drying time (up to fans for air
passed over wet 24h); Not for dusty or circulation.
solids on trays. thermolabile materials;
Solvent cannot be
recovered;
Temperature
Fluidized Bed Hot air flows Shorter drying time; Not for sticky solids Lubricants and
variability.
Dryer upward, Capacities from 5– with high water disintegrants can
suspending solid 200 kg; Improves content; Not suitable be added near the
particles into a flowability; Allows for thermolabile or end of granulation.
fluidized state mixing during drying. fragile materials.
(convection).
Vacuum Indirect heat via Ideal for Not suitable for waxy Operates at 0.03–
Tumbling Dryer steam jacket thermolabile, friable, materials 0.06 bar; Water
under vacuum; or toxic materials; (aggregation); Limited boils at 25–35°C;
conduction and Solvent recovery; capacity. Charge 50–60% of
pressure drop for Short drying time. total volume.
drying.
Freeze Dryer Sublimation of Low temperature Very slow and Used for sensitive
(Lyophilizer) frozen water drying; Minimizes expensive; products like
under vacuum; enzyme degradation; Hygroscopic final vaccines and blood
bypasses liquid No oxidation; Porous product; Not suitable serum; Involves
phase. product with ready for non-aqueous freezing, vacuum,
solubility. solvents. primary and
secondary drying
stages.
