1. Dryers

1.1 Numerous models

There are many different types of dryer, almost as diverse as the products to be dried. The flow rates of the products to be dried and their residence times in the dryer are also extremely varied, ranging from a few kilograms to several tons per hour, with the product being dried in a fraction of a second, or several tens of days.

Dryers used in the food industry can be classified according to various criteria:

• the drying principle (entrainment/boiling) ;

• method of heat supply ;

• product residence time ;

• product handling mode (solid, liquid, pasty), etc.

The...