+31 314 373 333In response to increasing market demand for high temperature powder processing Hosokawa Micron has developed a range of new technologies that address the requirement for processing temperatures up to 325⁰C.
High temperature processing allows chemical reactions that simply will not occur at lower temperatures. In enabling different chemical reactions material processors are able to impart different properties and altered characteristics leading to the development of customised powders. Turning up the process heat can also deliver time and cost efficiencies over more traditional processing models.
Multi-processing in a single vessel is increasingly important for those seeking contained processing for contamination-free production and/or minimum handling and product transfer and Hosokawa Micron have incorporated this production advantage within their equipment and system designs.
Elevated temperatures are used to transform materials from one solid state to another state or for dehydration. Whilst drying is normally conducted at around 100⁰C, if other processes are involved, a higher temperature may be required. The challenges of engineering for high temperature processing are addressed by separating seals, bearings, drive mechanisms and valves from high temperature areas and by selecting appropriate, heat tolerant mechanical components and thermoplastic seals etc.
The diversity of demand in the market requires a flexible approach to high temperature processing solutions if both present and future opportunities are to be exploited and here Hosokawa Micron outline their most recent and on-going developments, over and above those on the renowned Nauta conical mixer/dryer which also offers successful high temperature processing of even the most sticky materials.
Conical Paddle Dryer (CPD)
The Conical Paddle Dryer (CPD) combines extremely fast drying rates with a compact design developed to enable vacuum, atmospheric and pressurised processing of a variety of materials such as powders, filter cakes, pastes, viscous slurries and especially brittle materials.
Capable of combining several processes in one vessel, the CPD has proved successful in a range of applications including:
- Chemical reactions: alkalisation, solid-gas reactions
- Crystallisation
- Wet agglomeration and granulation of solids
- Sterilisation of products
DMR flash mill dryer
This ultra-compact DMR flash mill dryer combines drying, de-agglomeration/milling and classifying in one piece of equipment, drying temperature-sensitive products, safely, even under increased temperatures, in a matter of seconds! It delivers a lump free, defined particle size final product output.
With the capability to handle moisture content fluctuations from a few % up to more than 80% in suspensions, slurries, pastes, dough, filter cakes and wet powders it uses about 30-40% less energy per kilogram of evaporated water than conventional dryers.
High Temperature Processes
Polymerisation
Typically Hosokawa Micron heat treatments are applied following polymer reactor synthesis. The first step being for evaporation of water or still present monomers. The second step to physically alter material characteristics.
The advantage of this closed system is that both treatments occur in the same machine. The ability to accurately control the temperature and the process, prevent oxygen entering the system to inhibit burning of the mainly carbon based polymers, combined with the ability to add process flexibility by delivering different temperatures at different times, creates limitless opportunities for those wishing to exploit materials characteristics.
Hosokawa Micron have supplied various 16 m³ vacuum dryers for polymerisation processes and the company has experience with a wide range of engineered polymers with special purpose applications in aerospace and Formula 1 where Hosokawa Micron's ability to offer customers a route to producing a high quality, technically valuable end product is of paramount importance. This is enhanced by Hosokawa's lab-to-production capability across their range of equipment.
Catalyst Production
The use of a DMR flash mill dryer, in carrier or support material preparation, offers significant advantages over traditional spray dryer systems that use excessive amounts of water incurring high vaporisation costs. Able to accept mechanically dewatered filter cakes or pastes as well as slurries the flash dryer offers an energy efficient approach to transforming carrier materials to the required consistency with confirmational examples in petrochemical and other specialised applications.
The impregnation of active components, typically precious metals, onto carrier materials can be achieved efficiently utilising Nauta mixer/dryers with homogeneous distribution across the carrier before drying. The surface components can then be activated by additional heat treatments or the addition of oxygen to passivate the metals on the carrier.
Try Before You Buy
The Hosokawa Micron test centre in the Netherlands offers a range of process and equipment test opportunities offered in conjunction with the expertise of its process technologists as an integral part of Hosokawa Micron's partnership approach to continued development.
