APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SPRAY DRYING

摘要

An electrostatic spray dryer for drying liquid into powder including an elongated body defining a drying chamber, a spray nozzle assembly at one end of the drying chamber and a filter element housing and powder collection chamber at an opposite end. A non-structural non-metallic liner is disposed within the elongated body in spaced relation to an inner wall surface for defining an internal drying zone. The liner is releasably supported within the body for enabling selective removal and replacement following a particular usage. The illustrated elongated body has a modular construction comprising a plurality of modules, with at least one being selectively removable and replacement for altering the length of the drying chamber for a particular spray application. The liner also is replaceable with a liner of a length corresponding to the altered length of the drying chamber or with a different diameter for a particular usage.

主权项

1. An electrostatic spray drying system for drying liquid into powder comprising:
an elongated structural body supported in upright position; a closure arrangement at opposite upper and lower ends of the elongated body for forming a drying chamber within said elongated body; a non-structural non-metallic liner disposed within said elongated body in spaced relation to an inner wall surface of the elongated body for defining an internal drying zone within said elongated body; one of said closure arrangements including a drying gas inlet for coupling to a drying gas source and for directing drying gas into said drying zone; an electrostatic spray nozzle assembly supported in one of the closure arrangements; said electrostatic spray nozzle assembly including a nozzle body having a discharge spray tip assembly at a downstream end thereof for directing liquid to be dried into said drying zone; said electrostatic spray nozzle assembly having a liquid inlet for coupling to a supply of liquid to be discharged into the drying zone and an electrode for coupling to an electrical source for electrically charging liquid passing through said spray nozzle assembly for discharge from said discharge spray tip assembly into said drying zone; and a circumferentially disposed support for releasably supporting said liner within said elongated body and for enabling selective removal and replacement of the liner following usage of the electrostatic spray drying system.