A pilot-scale dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer

Abstract

This utility model discloses a pilot-scale two-fluid atomizing spray dryer, belonging to the technical field of spray drying equipment. The equipment is an open system specifically designed for pilot-scale drying of aqueous solutions. It mainly includes a machine body, an atomizer, a drying chamber, a cyclone separator, a bag filter, a peristaltic pump, a flow meter, and a control panel. The bottom and side of the drying chamber are respectively connected to a first collection bottle and a second collection bottle, and the outlet of the bag filter is directly connected to the outside through a tail gas emission pipe. The key feature of this utility model is that the equipment does not include a condensation component or a tail gas recirculation component, thus simplifying the system structure and reducing manufacturing costs and operational complexity. The equipment has a compact structure, is easy to operate and maintain, and is perfectly suited for the pilot-scale stage of scaling up aqueous materials from laboratory processes to industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of spray drying equipment technology, and in particular to a pilot-scale dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer for process scale-up verification. The equipment is an open system with a rated evaporation capacity of approximately 3 liters of water per hour, specifically designed for pilot-scale testing of aqueous materials during the transition from laboratory processes to industrial production. Background Technology

[0002] In the fields of chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and food, after a new formula or process is successfully developed in the laboratory (usually less than 1-2 liters per batch), it must undergo pilot-scale verification before it can be safely and reliably transferred to industrial production. The core purpose of the pilot-scale stage is to verify and optimize the process parameters for industrial production, and its processing scale is usually between that of the laboratory and industrial production.

[0003] However, existing small-scale laboratory spray dryers (such as those with a capacity of 2L or less) have too low a throughput, requiring frequent and repeated experiments for pilot-scale operations, resulting in low efficiency. Furthermore, their system design (such as heating power and fan airflow) is insufficient to support continuous and stable pilot-scale operation. On the other hand, directly using large-scale industrial equipment for pilot-scale operations presents problems such as high costs, significant material waste, and inflexible operation.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need in the field for a spray drying device specifically designed for pilot-scale operations. It should have a moderate processing capacity (e.g., evaporating 2-5 liters of water per hour), a simplified open system to reduce costs and operational difficulties, and a structure that can adapt to the requirements of pilot-scale workshops for equipment mobility and layout. Utility Model Content

[0005] 1. Technical problem to be solved: To address the problems in existing technologies, the purpose of this invention is to provide a pilot-scale dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer. Its core function is to solve the problem of lacking dedicated, efficient, and economical intermediate-scale experimental equipment during the industrial-scale expansion of laboratory processes. It eliminates the need for complex closed-loop circulation systems and achieves efficient, convenient, and low-cost pilot-scale drying of aqueous materials through a moderate processing capacity of approximately 3 liters / hour and a system layout optimized for pilot-scale scenarios (such as an external bag filter).

[0006] 2. Technical Solution: To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution.

[0007] A pilot-scale dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer, an open system specifically designed for drying aqueous solutions, includes a body, atomizer, drying chamber, cyclone separator, bag filter, peristaltic pump, flow meter, and control panel.

[0008] The bottom of the machine body is equipped with four casters for easy movement.

[0009] The heater and the motor that drives the fan are both built into the body and are used to provide hot air and airflow.

[0010] The atomizer, configured as a dual-fluid atomizing nozzle, is installed on the upper left side of the machine body. The drying chamber is installed inside the left side of the machine body and below the atomizer. The upper part of the drying chamber is provided with a viewing window, and the bottom is connected to a first collection bottle for collecting materials via a first clamp. The lower part of the side wall is connected to a connector via a second clamp.

[0011] The inlet of the cyclone separator is connected to the drying chamber via the connector, and its bottom outlet is connected to a second collection bottle for collecting materials via a third clamp. The inlet of the bag filter is connected to the top outlet of the cyclone separator via a pipe, and its outlet is directly connected to the outside via a tail gas emission pipe.

[0012] The peristaltic pump is located on the front of the machine body. The flow meter is located on the front of the machine body and below the peristaltic pump. The power button is located on the front of the machine body. The control panel is located on the front of the machine body and is used to control the operation of the entire device. A placement platform is located on the top of the machine body and is used to place material containers.

[0013] The peristaltic pump is connected to the material container on the placement platform via a feed pipe and to the liquid nozzle input end of the atomizer via a discharge pipe.

[0014] The equipment does not include a condensation component and an exhaust gas recirculation component, and constitutes an open emission system.

[0015] Preferably, the gas nozzle input end of the atomizer is connected to an external air compressor via a pipeline.

[0016] Preferably, the connector is equipped with a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the airflow after drying.

[0017] Preferably, the bag filter is placed independently on the ground by a bracket to accommodate larger equipment volume and air volume.

[0018] Preferably, the material of the drying chamber can be selected as food grade or pharmaceutical grade according to the cleanliness requirements.

[0019] 3. Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided by this utility model has the following advantages: (1) Simplified structure and reduced cost: By omitting complex components such as condensation components, tail gas circulation components, oxygen analyzers, pipeline pressure gauges and pressure regulating valves designed specifically for organic solvents, the system structure is greatly simplified, and the manufacturing and maintenance costs of the equipment are significantly reduced.

[0020] (2) Easy to operate: The open system does not require complex inert gas replacement and pressure balance adjustment. It can be used for aqueous solution drying as soon as it is turned on, which greatly simplifies the operation process and lowers the technical threshold for operators.

[0021] (3) Small footprint: Since the condenser and exhaust gas circulation components located at the rear of the machine are eliminated, the overall layout of the equipment is more compact and the footprint is reduced.

[0022] (4) Easy maintenance: The entire line is connected by clamps, and the main collection devices (such as bag filters) are independently external, making disassembly, cleaning and replacement very convenient.

[0023] (5) Precisely positioned for pilot-scale amplification: The rated evaporation capacity of this utility model is 3 liters of water / hour. Its system design (including heating power, fan air volume and pipe size) is optimized for this processing capacity, perfectly filling the capacity gap between small laboratory equipment and large industrial equipment, and providing a dedicated platform for process amplification.

[0024] (6) Configuration and cost optimization of pilot-scale system: an external bag filter is used to accommodate a larger air volume and facilitate maintenance; compared with the use of small experimental equipment for scale-up verification, the efficiency of a single experiment is significantly improved and the time cost is reduced; compared with the use of industrial production lines, the material and energy costs of the experiment are greatly reduced.

[0025] It should be noted that the structures not described in this utility model are the same as or can be implemented using existing technology, and will not be elaborated here, as they do not involve the design points and improvement directions of this utility model. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Fig. 1 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of this utility model; Fig. 2 This is a side view of the structure of this utility model; Fig. 3 This is a structural diagram of the back of the present invention.

[0027] Explanation of the labels in the diagram: 1. Main body; 11. Peristaltic pump; 12. Flow meter; 13. Power button; 14. Control panel; 15. Placement platform; 2. Pulley; 3. Atomizer; 4. Drying chamber; 41. Viewing window; 42. First collection bottle; 5. Connector; 51. Temperature sensor; 6. Cyclone separator; 61. Second collection bottle; 7. Bag filter. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more comprehensive description of the utility model will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show several embodiments of the utility model. However, the utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of the utility model will be more thorough and complete. Example

[0029] like Figs. 1-3 As shown, this embodiment provides a pilot-scale spray dryer with a rated moisture evaporation capacity of 3 liters / hour. Its core feature is that it is an open system, which means that the drying medium (air) is discharged directly into the atmosphere after passing through the system once, unlike a closed system which is recycled.

[0030] The main body 1 serves as a supporting frame, with four casters 2 at the bottom, providing good mobility for the equipment. On the operating area of ​​the front of the main body 1, from top to bottom or in sequence, are arranged a peristaltic pump 11, a flow meter 12, a power button 13, and a control panel 14. A platform 15 is located on the top of the main body 1 for holding containers containing aqueous solutions. The atomizer 3 is installed on the upper left side of the main body 1, and its gas nozzle inlet is connected to an external air compressor (not shown in the figure) via a pipe to obtain atomization power.

[0031] The peristaltic pump 11 is connected to the material container on the placement platform 15 at one end of the pipe and to the liquid nozzle input end of the atomizer 3 at the other end, and is responsible for stably and accurately delivering the material to the atomizer.

[0032] The drying chamber 4 is located directly below the atomizer 3 and is fixed inside the body 1 by a bracket. A viewing window 41 is provided at its upper part for easy observation of the atomization and drying process. The bottom is connected to the first collection bottle 42 via a clamp for collecting incompletely dried wet powder or large particles. A temperature sensor 51 is installed inside the connector 5 on the lower side wall for real-time monitoring of the drying temperature. The other end of the connector 5 is connected to the inlet of the cyclone separator 6.

[0033] After initial separation in drying chamber 4, the airflow carrying fine powder enters tangentially into cyclone separator 6. Most of the dried product is separated and collected in the second collection bottle 61 at the bottom under centrifugal force. Subsequently, the gas containing extremely fine powder exits from the top outlet of cyclone separator 6 and enters bag filter 7. Since this invention is designed for pilot-scale operation with a large air volume and gas load, an external bag filter 7, independently placed on the ground via a bracket, is used. This ensures sufficient filtration area and low maintenance costs, a key difference from the built-in solutions in small-scale experimental equipment, adapting to the needs of pilot-scale scenarios.

[0034] Crucially, after being purified by the bag filter 7, the airflow no longer enters any condensation or recirculation components. Instead, it is directly discharged outdoors through the exhaust pipe connected to the outlet of the bag filter 7, thus forming a complete open system. Therefore, this invention does not include the condensation components and exhaust groups (including recirculation pipes, three-way valves, etc.) commonly found in closed systems, which fundamentally simplifies the system structure.

[0035] Working principle: After the equipment is started, an external air compressor provides compressed air to the atomizer 3, while the peristaltic pump 11 delivers the aqueous material to the atomizer 3, where it is atomized into tiny droplets. The droplets undergo instantaneous heat and mass exchange with hot air (provided by the equipment's built-in heater, not shown in the figure) in the drying chamber 4, causing the moisture to evaporate and forming dry powder. The powder is collected in two stages by a cyclone separator 6 and a bag filter 7, and the exhaust gas is directly discharged.

[0036] In summary, this utility model provides a dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer with a simple structure, economical cost, convenient operation, and specifically designed for pilot-scale testing of aqueous solutions, effectively filling the gap in existing technologies for specific application scenarios.

[0037] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A pilot-scale two-fluid atomizing spray dryer, an open system specifically designed for drying aqueous solutions, characterized in that: include: The body (1) has four pulleys (2) at its bottom; Atomizer (3), which is configured as a dual-fluid atomizing nozzle, is installed on the upper left side of the body (1); The drying chamber (4) is installed inside the left side of the body (1) and located below the atomizer (3). The upper part of the drying chamber (4) is provided with an independent viewing window (41), and the bottom is connected to a first collection bottle (42) for collecting materials by a first clamp. The lower part of the side wall is connected to a connector (5) by a second clamp. The cyclone separator (6) has its inlet connected to the drying chamber (4) via the connector (5), and its bottom outlet is connected to a second collection bottle (61) for collecting materials via a third clamp. An external bag filter (7) is placed on the ground by an independent bracket. Its inlet is connected to the top outlet of the cyclone separator (6) through a pipe. Its outlet is connected to the exhaust pipe that leads directly to the outside, so that the drying medium is discharged after passing through the system once, thus forming an open discharge. A peristaltic pump (11) is disposed on the front of the body (1); A flow meter (12) is disposed on the front of the body (1) and located below the peristaltic pump (11); The power button (13) is located on the front of the body (1); A control panel (14) is located on the front of the body (1) and is used to control the operation of the entire device; A placement platform (15) is set on top of the machine body (1) for placing material containers; The peristaltic pump (11) is connected to the material container on the placement platform (15) through the feed pipe, and is connected to the liquid nozzle input end of the atomizer (3) through the discharge pipe. The equipment does not include a condensation component or an exhaust gas recirculation component.

2. The pilot-scale dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas nozzle input end of the atomizer (3) is connected to an external air compressor via a pipe.

3. The pilot-scale dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A temperature sensor (51) is installed inside the connector (5).

4. A pilot-scale dual-fluid atomizing spray dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rated evaporation capacity of the equipment is 3L / h.

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