By Jens Thousig Møller and Søren Fredsted, GEA Niro

Spray drying is one of the major industrial drying technologies. It is applied by many industries because of its ability to convert a liquid product into a dried powder in a lenient single step and because it allows you to control temperature and the particle formation process very accurately. Altering the process parameters allows you to produce complex powders that meet exact powder properties in terms of particle size and shape, bulk density, dispersibility, polymorphism, flow properties and so on, in a very efficient manner. Spray drying is applied in the production of an endless number of products in the chemical process industries (CPI) ranging from advanced chemical compounds to bulk chemicals. »

By Donald F. Cameron, Primasonics International Ltd.

Particulate buildup and other material flow problems are common hurdles wherever dry materials find application in the chemical process industries (CPI). Since manual intervention is costly in terms of downtime, and can be quite hazardous for the personnel involved, dedicated equipment is an attractive way to either prevent or remove flow blockages. Equipment options include vibrators and air cannons and a lesser-known, yet sound solution known as audiosonic acoustic cleaners (AACs). AACs employ high-energy, low-frequency sound waves to eliminate particulate buildup and facilitate maximum material flow. Also known as sonic horns, these pneumatically operated devices generally produce sound waves within the 60–420 Hz frequency range. »