A large part of powdered formulations within the food industry is produced by spray drying. The powder properties, such as its bulk density, flowability and reconstitution behaviour, are influenced by the level of agglomeration occurring during the spray drying process. In the project StAgglop we aim to improve agglomeration control in industrial spray dryers, which can reduce energy use and off-spec powder production in the powder production chain.
In short:
- During large scale production, lack of control of agglomeration negatively impacts operation efficiency of spray dryers and leads to significant material losses
- Improved agglomeration control will contribute to the reduction of emissions and to meet increasing strict fine dust emission regulations for industrial drying systems
- StAgglop therefore aims at developing scaling-relations to steer sticky behavior and agglomeration in spray drying processes
Reducing emissions by improving agglomeration control
Agglomeration during spray drying occurs when a partially-dried droplet collides with another partially-dried droplet or with a fully-dried (agglomerate) particle. There is a complex relationship between drying of droplets and agglomeration dynamics. The period, which starts with generation and exposure of a droplet to high inlet air temperature (resulting in extreme drying rates) and ends with collision with another partially-dried droplet or fully dried (agglomerate) particle is crucial for steering the agglomeration process.
In industrial practice, agglomeration is optimised by adapting the position and/or angle of (usually) high pressure nozzles, air flow pattern and presence of fines return to obtain agglomerated powder of desired quality. This approach is trial-and-error based and needs to be continuously repeated for different spray drying systems and products.
Lack of control of agglomeration negatively impacts operation efficiency of spray dryers (e.g. due to fouling and lower production capacities) and leads to significant material losses (in the form of off-spec product) during large scale production. It is estimated that for the Netherlands, annually 0.9-1.5 PJ energy or 200-300 kton CO2 eq emission may be reduced by improving agglomeration control in spray dryers. Moreover, improved agglomeration control will contribute to the reduction of fine dust emission from dryers, for which increasingly strict regulations are reinforced by the government.
Steering sticky behaviour and agglomeration
The project StAgglop therefore aims at developing scaling-relations to steer sticky behavior and particle agglomeration in spray drying process. We develop these by:
- Studying drying kinetics, evolution of sticky surface properties and binary particle collisions at the single droplet scale
- Investigating on pilot-scale sticky zones and agglomeration behavior in well-defined spray drying systems to move away from current empirical approaches. Translation of critical parameters obtained in single droplet drying studies will lead to recommendations for process conditions in spray drying, e. g. nozzle positions and angles, air flow and temperature
You might also be interested in
Food Roadmap: sustainability in the food industry
Reducing energy use and material loss by controlling agglomeration spray drying
The ambition of a new agri-food system in the Netherlands
Let’s get in touch
Anne van der Zwaan
Also in our team
Anneloes van Boven
Nienke Eijkelboom
Jewe Schroeder
Acknowledgement & partners
This project is co-funded by TKI-Energy with the supplementary grant 'TKI- Toeslag' for Topconsortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI’s) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
