EP1703240B1 - A method of drying in a superheated steam "flash" dryer - Google Patents

A method of drying in a superheated steam "flash" dryer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1703240B1
EP1703240B1 EP06111088A EP06111088A EP1703240B1 EP 1703240 B1 EP1703240 B1 EP 1703240B1 EP 06111088 A EP06111088 A EP 06111088A EP 06111088 A EP06111088 A EP 06111088A EP 1703240 B1 EP1703240 B1 EP 1703240B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drying
product
dryer
steam
superheated water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP06111088A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1703240A3 (en
EP1703240A2 (en
Inventor
Marek Sieredzinski
Cezary Majewski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
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International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
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Publication date
Application filed by International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo filed Critical International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Publication of EP1703240A2 publication Critical patent/EP1703240A2/en
Publication of EP1703240A3 publication Critical patent/EP1703240A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1703240B1 publication Critical patent/EP1703240B1/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B21/00—Arrangements for supplying or controlling air or other gases for drying solid materials or objects
    • F26B21/30—Controlling, e.g. regulating, parameters of gas supply
    • F26B21/33—Humidity
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B17/00—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement
    • F26B17/10—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed by fluid currents, e.g. issuing from a nozzle, e.g. pneumatic, flash, vortex or entrainment dryers
    • F26B17/101—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed by fluid currents, e.g. issuing from a nozzle, e.g. pneumatic, flash, vortex or entrainment dryers the drying enclosure having the shape of one or a plurality of shafts or ducts, e.g. with substantially straight and vertical axis

Definitions

  • Process parameters are controlled during the process, such as the drying medium temperature, the oxygen contents in the drying medium, the mass inflow of the product, and the moisture content of the product to be dried at the outlet of the drying process, as the resulting quantity.
  • the drying process in "flash" type superheated steam dryers was based on controlled supplementation of steam, the steam replenishing losses of water.
  • those methods of drying when a product to be dried was added or exchanged, disturbances of the drying process were occurring, and the stabilization period was long, until the process achieved the steady state.
  • the obtained product had to be recirculated into the drying process or had inappropriate parameters, such as the moisture content, this being very adverse for such products as tobacco material.
  • obtaining an inappropriate product resulted in the necessity of stopping machines, and the start-up was a long-lasting process.
  • a method of drying in a flash type superheated steam dryer wherein a drying medium in a form of steam is delivered to a product to be dried and then delivered to a separator, which separates the product from the drying medium, the medium being delivered to a superheater via a fan, whereupon again the product is added, wherein superheated water is added to the path of the drying medium in a controlled manner, preferably directly via nozzles.
  • the superheated water is added upstream the steam superheater.
  • the superheated water is added upstream the fan.
  • the superheated water may also be added upstream the product inlet into the dryer.
  • the method according to the invention significantly reduces the periods of transient nonstationary states related to the beginning, interrupting and terminating the drying process, allowing for better stability of the parameters of the product to be dried during the drying process, thanks to the increase of elasticity of the parameters of the dryer operation, and significantly increases the effective production time, thus increasing the efficiency. After injection of the superheated water, almost immediately adjustment of the drying process occurs and no product degradation happens.
  • the delivery of the superheated water may be used to accelerate cooling of the dryer after the drying process.
  • the dryer becomes more dynamical, particularly when a product is being changed.
  • the quality of the drying process increases, stoppages are avoided, and neither overdried nor underdried products are obtained.
  • the method according to the invention eliminates the necessity of using an external source of steam for approaching the process capacity quickly (achievement of appropriate parameters during the startup of the dryer) when the drying medium is superheated steam.
  • Figs 1 - 3 show a modern arrangement of a dryer comprising a pipeline in which a drying medium flows, the medium being superheated steam, and a product, for example tobacco material, a fan propelling the drying medium and the product, a superheater for the drying medium, for example steam, a separator separating the product from the drying medium, and air-locks (not shown) separating the interior of the drying pipeline from the surroundings, located at the inlet and outlet of the product, preventing losses, i.e. spilling out of the drying medium while allowing for the flow of the product, and a system of automatic control of the process parameters (not shown).
  • superheated water is added to the path of the drying medium in a controlled manner, preferably directly via nozzles.
  • the superheated water may be added upstream the steam superheater ( Fig. 1 ), upstream the product inlet into the dryer ( Fig. 2 ), or upstream the fan ( Fig. 3 ).
  • the superheated water may be added via the same nozzles, depending on needs.
  • Adding the superheated water upstream the steam superheater allows for replenishing the steam in the dryer and for regulation of the oxygen contents in the range from 0% to 5%.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Description

  • This invention relates to a method of drying in a "flash" type superheated steam dryer.
  • A "flash" type superheated steam dryer comprises a pipeline in which a drying medium flows, the medium being superheated steam, and a product, for example tobacco material, a fan propelling the drying medium and the product, a superheater for the drying medium, steam, a separator separating the product from the drying medium, and air-locks separating the interior of the drying pipeline from the surroundings, located at the inlet and outlet of the product, preventing losses, i.e. spilling out of the drying medium while allowing for the flow of the product, and a system of automatic control of the process parameters.
  • The operation of a "flash" type superheated steam dryer may be divided into the following stages:
    • Preparing the machine for the process;
    • Stand-by for the start of the drying process;
    • Drying process (the actual process);
    • Cooling the machine after the drying process.
  • The above mentioned functions are controlled by a system of automatic control of the process.
  • Process parameters are controlled during the process, such as the drying medium temperature, the oxygen contents in the drying medium, the mass inflow of the product, and the moisture content of the product to be dried at the outlet of the drying process, as the resulting quantity.
  • Since the moisture content of the dried product, suitable for further processing, must be confined within very narrow limits, typically less than ± 1%, precise control of the system and limiting duration of transient nonstationary states, generated at the moments of changing the process stages and by disturbances due to the inertia of the dryer, are of critical importance.
  • According to the state of the art, the drying process in "flash" type superheated steam dryers was based on controlled supplementation of steam, the steam replenishing losses of water. According to those methods of drying, when a product to be dried was added or exchanged, disturbances of the drying process were occurring, and the stabilization period was long, until the process achieved the steady state. Frequently, the obtained product had to be recirculated into the drying process or had inappropriate parameters, such as the moisture content, this being very adverse for such products as tobacco material. Often, obtaining an inappropriate product resulted in the necessity of stopping machines, and the start-up was a long-lasting process.
  • DE 1432575 discloses a method of drying cut tobacco in a "flash" type dryer in which a drying medium in a form of steam is delivered to a product to be dried and then delivered to a separator which separates the product from the drying medium. In the described method water is added to the path of the drying medium.
  • According to the invention, a method of drying in a flash type superheated steam dryer wherein a drying medium in a form of steam is delivered to a product to be dried and then delivered to a separator, which separates the product from the drying medium, the medium being delivered to a superheater via a fan, whereupon again the product is added, wherein superheated water is added to the path of the drying medium in a controlled manner, preferably directly via nozzles.
    Preferably, the superheated water is added upstream the steam superheater.
    Also preferably, the superheated water is added upstream the fan.
    The superheated water may also be added upstream the product inlet into the dryer.
  • Oxygen contents is preferably regulated in the range of 0% - 5%.
  • Delivery of the superheated water upstream the steam superheater allows for replenishing the steam in the dryer and for regulation of the oxygen contents in the range from 0% to 5%.
  • Introduction of the superheated water upstream the fan decreases the volume while increasing the density of the steam, this resulting in an increase of the flow rate in the process zone.
  • Introduction of the superheated water upstream the product inlet into the dryer gives the possibility of rapid change of temperature and flow rate.
  • The method according to the invention significantly reduces the periods of transient nonstationary states related to the beginning, interrupting and terminating the drying process, allowing for better stability of the parameters of the product to be dried during the drying process, thanks to the increase of elasticity of the parameters of the dryer operation, and significantly increases the effective production time, thus increasing the efficiency. After injection of the superheated water, almost immediately adjustment of the drying process occurs and no product degradation happens.
  • Furthermore, by using the method according to the invention fast compensation of disturbances of the drying process and better stability are obtained resulting in better product quality.
  • Furthermore, according to the invention, the delivery of the superheated water may be used to accelerate cooling of the dryer after the drying process.
  • According to the invention, the dryer becomes more dynamical, particularly when a product is being changed. The quality of the drying process increases, stoppages are avoided, and neither overdried nor underdried products are obtained.
  • The method according to the invention eliminates the necessity of using an external source of steam for approaching the process capacity quickly (achievement of appropriate parameters during the startup of the dryer) when the drying medium is superheated steam.
  • The present invention will be understood more fully in conjunction with the drawings in which:
    • Fig. 1 shows an arrangement of the dryer in which the superheated water is delivered upstream the steam superheater;
    • Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of the dryer in which the superheated water is delivered upstream the inlet of the product into the dryer;
    • Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of the dryer in which the superheated water is delivered upstream the fan.
  • Figs 1 - 3 show a modern arrangement of a dryer comprising a pipeline in which a drying medium flows, the medium being superheated steam, and a product, for example tobacco material, a fan propelling the drying medium and the product, a superheater for the drying medium, for example steam, a separator separating the product from the drying medium, and air-locks (not shown) separating the interior of the drying pipeline from the surroundings, located at the inlet and outlet of the product, preventing losses, i.e. spilling out of the drying medium while allowing for the flow of the product, and a system of automatic control of the process parameters (not shown).
  • In the method of drying according to the invention superheated water is added to the path of the drying medium in a controlled manner, preferably directly via nozzles.
  • The superheated water may be added upstream the steam superheater (Fig. 1), upstream the product inlet into the dryer (Fig. 2), or upstream the fan (Fig. 3).
  • The superheated water may be added via the same nozzles, depending on needs.
  • Adding the superheated water upstream the steam superheater allows for replenishing the steam in the dryer and for regulation of the oxygen contents in the range from 0% to 5%.

Claims (5)

  1. A method of drying in a "flash" type superheated steam dryer wherein a drying medium in a form of steam is delivered to a product to be dried and then delivered to a separator, which separates the product from the drying medium, the medium being delivered to a superheater via a fan, whereupon again the product to be dried is added, wherein superheated water is added to the path of the drying medium in a controlled manner, preferably directly via nozzles.
  2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the superheated water is added upstream the steam superheater.
  3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the superheated water is added upstream the fan.
  4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the superheated water is added upstream the product inlet into the dryer.
  5. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that oxygen contents is regulated in the range of 0% - 5%.
EP06111088A 2005-03-17 2006-03-14 A method of drying in a superheated steam "flash" dryer Expired - Lifetime EP1703240B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL373746A PL211642B1 (en) 2005-03-17 2005-03-17 Method for the drying in a superheated steam dryer of the flash type

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1703240A2 EP1703240A2 (en) 2006-09-20
EP1703240A3 EP1703240A3 (en) 2011-11-16
EP1703240B1 true EP1703240B1 (en) 2013-02-27

Family

ID=36579344

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06111088A Expired - Lifetime EP1703240B1 (en) 2005-03-17 2006-03-14 A method of drying in a superheated steam "flash" dryer

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP1703240B1 (en)
PL (1) PL211642B1 (en)

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB957532A (en) * 1961-11-23 1964-05-06 British American Tobacco Co Improvements relating to the drying of tobacco
US3786573A (en) * 1971-12-27 1974-01-22 Helme Prod Inc Method of and a device for controlling the process temperature in an air stream drying system
IE870154L (en) * 1987-01-21 1988-07-21 Bord Na Mona Peat drying apparatus
GB9007150D0 (en) * 1990-03-30 1990-05-30 Gbe International Plc Apparatus and method for the conditioning of particulate material
DE19606472C1 (en) * 1996-02-21 1997-07-03 Fritz Egger Ges M B H & Co Method of attaining required residual humidity of wood fibres for throughflow drying process
DE10117783A1 (en) * 2001-04-10 2002-10-24 Bat Cigarettenfab Gmbh Process gas processing for tobacco dryers
DE10350838A1 (en) 2003-10-28 2005-06-02 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Method for cooling a drying device for a tobacco product and correspondingly controlled drying device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PL373746A1 (en) 2006-09-18
EP1703240A3 (en) 2011-11-16
PL211642B1 (en) 2012-06-29
EP1703240A2 (en) 2006-09-20

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