DRYERS AND DRYING

PROCESSES

PRESENTED BY: JOHN MARK L. DAYAGBIL

What is Dryer?

Dryers are devices or machines that eliminate moisture from

clothing, hair, food, etc. Clothes dryer generally used in households
to dry up the laundry after washing, while hair dryer is a machine
which is used to dry up and style wet hairs. Industrial dryers can be
used in manufacturing and processing to dry items like paper,
chemicals, or lumber in larger quantities.
Fundamental aspect of dryers

• The dryer works by using heat to evaporate moisture and airflow

to eliminate moist air. This operation ensures that heated air
reaches every part of the materials, allowing them to dry quickly
and thoroughly. The process is governed by the principles of
evaporation, heat transfer and thermodynamics, making it an
effective method of drying materials.
Aspects to know about the dryers and drying
processes

• Drying Mechanism
• Phases of Drying
Drying Mechanism

• The drying mechanism is the process of removing moisture from a

substance using the processes of heat transfer, which provides
energy for evaporation, and mass transfer, which moves moisture
from inside the material to the surface and then into the
surrounding air.
The main processes of driving mechanism

• Heat Transfer in Drying

• Mass Transfer in Drying
Heat Transfer in Drying

• Heat transfer in drying provides the energy required to evaporate

moisture from a material. It occurs through conduction, where
heat moves through direct contact, convection, where hot air or
gas carries heat to the material, and radiation, where
electromagnetic waves (infrared or microwave) transfer heat
without contact. The efficiency of heat transfer influences the
drying pace, with greater temperatures generally resulting in
faster evaporation, although excessive heat can damage heat-
sensitive materials.
Mass Transfer in Drying

• Mass transfer in drying is the flow of moisture from within the

material to the surface and then into the surrounding air, which is
influenced by a moisture levels gradient. This process consists of
internal diffusion, in which moisture moves within the material,
and evaporation, in which surface moisture converts to vapor and
is carried away by airflow.
4 PHASES OF DRYING

1. Initial Adjustment Phase

2. Constant Rate Period
3. Falling Rate Period
4. Residual Moisture Phase
Initial Adjustment Phase

• During this phase, the material absorbs heat and expands its
surface. Moisture within the material begins to move toward the
outside. The initial phase indicates the beginning of active drying.
We use hot air or gas during the drying process to cause moisture
movement.
Constant Rate Period

• The surface moisture will start to evaporate and the drying rate stays
constant. The surface of the material remains saturated in water,
allowing moisture extraction to be effective. This process continues
until there is no free water on the surface. In this stage, it assists to
preserve drying applying correct airflow and heat source.
• The drying rate is mostly determined by the surrounding air conditions
and is unaffected by internal moisture movement boundaries in water
evaporating from the surface as rapidly as it can reach it.
Falling Rate Period

• Once moisture is removed from the surface, the rate of drying

gradually reduces as inner moisture has to move to the outside.
Water moves by capillary effect or diffusion, which slows down
the evaporation process. Heat of the material increases, raising
the risk of overheating or degradation. In this phase, controlling
temperature and humidity is very important to prevent damage to
material.
Residual Moisture Phase

• Some materials (e.g., wood, medicines) retain moisture at the

molecular level even after the decreasing rate phase. Specialized
procedures, including vacuum or freeze drying, are used to
remove the limit of moisture. This step is important for accurately
measuring moisture content in sensitive materials. Industrial
drying uses moisture sensors or weight to determine when to stop.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRYERS

• Convection Dryers
• Conduction Dryers
• Radiation Dryers
• Freeze Dryers (Lyophilization)
• Spray Dryers
• Desiccant Dryers
CONVECTION DRYERS

• Convection dryers use hot air or gas to transfer heat to materials

to remove the moisture in a material. The heated air flows over
the material, accelerating the process of drying by convective
heat transfer.
TYPES OF CONVECTION DRYERS

1. Tray Dryers
2. Fluidized Bed Dryers
3. Rotary Dryers
Tray Dryers

• Tray dryers works by blowing hot air over stacked trays to remove
moisture from many different kinds of materials, making them
useful for drying agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and
chemicals. They are commonly used in laboratories and industry to
help manage and control drying operations.
Fluidized Bed Dryers

• Fluidized bed dryers work by passing hot air through a layer of

solid particles, causing them to move like a fluid, which increases
heat and mass transfer for effective drying. They commonly used
in industries like pharmaceuticals, food processing, and chemicals
to dry granular materials, powders, and crystals.
Rotary Dryers

• Rotary dryers work by spinning materials in a rotating drum as hot

air flows through, allowing for uniform drying by exposing the
material to constant heat and circulation. They are
commonly used in the mining, agriculture, and chemical industries
to dry bulk items like minerals, grains, and fertilizers.
CONDUCTION DRYERS

• Conduction dryers function by moving heat directly from a heated

surface to the product being dried, usually by contact with heated
plates or drums. They are commonly used to dry pastes, slurries,
and thin films in industries such as food processing,
pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.
TYPES OF CONDUCTION DRYERS

• Drum Dryers
• Vacuum Dryers
Drum Dryers

• A drum dryer is an industrial drying device that removes moisture

from liquid or wet materials by distributing them uniformly on a
spinning, heated drum, where heat conduction quickly evaporates
the moisture. It is commonly used in the food, pharmaceutical,
chemical, and waste treatment industries to dry items such as
milk powder, fruit purees, pigments, and waste.
Vacuum Dryers

• A vacuum dryer is a drying system that eliminates moisture from

heat-sensitive materials by working at a low pressure, lowering
the boiling point of water and allowing drying at lower
temperatures. It is commonly used in the medicine, food, and
chemical industries to dry heat-sensitive drugs, fruit powders, and
hygienic compounds without oxidation or deterioration.
RADIATION DRYERS

• Radiation dryers, such as infrared and microwave dryers, deliver

effective and speedy drying by transferring heat directly to fabrics
without the need of air or gas carriers. These dryers are especially
useful for heat-sensitive materials and industries such as food
processing, textiles, and medications, as they provide faster
drying periods while lowering the risk of overheating.
TYPES OF RADIATION DRYERS

• Infrared Dryers
• Microwave Dryers
Infrared Dryers

• Infrared dryers use infrared radiation to directly heat materials'

surfaces, causing moisture to evaporate rapidly. They are
commonly used in industries including as textiles, food processing,
and electronics to dry sensitive goods quickly.
Microwave Dryers

• Microwave dryers generate heat within the material, which causes

water molecules to vibrate and evaporate. This process ensures
fast and consistent drying, making it optimal for heat-sensitive
products such as medicines, food, and chemicals.
FREEZE DRYERS (Lyophilization)

• A freeze dryer, also known as a lyophilizer, is a drying machine

that removes moisture from materials by freezing them and then
reducing the pressure so that the ice vaporizes directly into vapor,
avoiding the liquid phase. It is commonly used in the medicinal
products food, and biotechnology industries to preserve products
like as vaccines, fruits, and biological samples while retaining
their structural and nutritional value.
SPRAY DRYERS

• A spray dryers are the machine that quickly dries liquid materials
by atomizing them into fine droplets and exposing them to hot air,
causing the moisture to evaporate quickly. It is commonly used in
the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors to make
powdered items like milk powder, instant coffee, and medications
while preserving product quality and reducing heat deterioration.
DESICCANT DRYERS

• Desiccant dryers use a desiccant material (such as silica gel or

activated alumina) to remove moisture from air or gases. These
dryers are commonly used in industries that require low humidity,
such as compressed air systems, packaging, and electronics
production, to prevent corrosion, mold growth, and product
degradation.