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Manufacturers use dryers for a variety of applications. From food processing to injection molding, numerous industries require some type of drying apparatus. Their design and function, therefore, is subject to the process at hand. However, dryers generally serve a single purpose—they remove moisture from a given substance. It is the methods which dryers employ to remove moisture that differ.

Desiccant dryers, for instance, remove moisture by adsorption. Adsorption varies from absorption in that it is the surface retention of a gas or liquid by a certain substance rather than the penetration of that gas or liquid into the majority of the drying substance. Typical adsorptive substances used in a desiccant dryer are silica gel and activated alumina. Desiccant dryers can be heaterless or heat reactivated. By comparison, refrigerated dyers provide a very efficient method of drying compressed air. Operating costs for refrigerated dryers, provided they are kept above water’s freezing point, are among the lowest available.

When selecting an industrial dryer, there is a typical checklist of criteria to examine. You must know the form of the feed, that is, whether you will be drying particulate, sludge, odd shapes, etc. You need to know the average amount of material passing through per time period, as well as the drying time per piece. In addition, your fuel source is a concern—will your dryer run on gas, oil, electricity or some other energy source? The size of your facility may also play a role in selection, as will any special requirements of the material (corrosiveness, toxicity, flammability). You must also make sure that the dryer of your choice does not overheat the work pieces, which can cause melting or other damage.

The parameters of your operation are the most important factor in dryer selection. They will help you choose from the multitude of drying devices available. Batch or continuous? Vacuum or atmospheric? Multistage? The decisions depend on the application. Consult with the project engineer or manufacturer, and make sure that you address each point of concern before purchase.