Feasibility studies are an extremely valuable tool when looking to acquire an industrial drying system. They can help to confirm process viability, and gather data points necessary for process scale-up. This presentation looks at some of the settings in which drying feasibility trials are most valuable, as well as the benefits feasibility testing can offer, and what types of things can be tested for.

1. Drying Feasibility Studies
Experts in process design and material
processing for over 60 years.
A Look at

2. When looking to acquire an industrial drying
system, feasibility testing provides an
opportunity to confirm the viability of your
intended process, and gather valuable
process data.

3. Feasibility testing can be used to work out
process variables and other unknown data
points, providing a recipe for success, and
reducing the potential for surprises after
process scale-up.

4. There are many situations in which it may be
desirable to test your material in a feasibility
center or pilot plant prior to investing in a
full-scale production facility…

5. To Test
Pre-Conditioning

6. Many materials must fall into a specific
range of moisture in order to be
processed. For this reason, materials are
often dried in order to pre-condition them
for the remainder of the process.

7. Many materials must fall into a specific
range of moisture in order to be
processed. For this reason, materials are
often dried in order to pre-condition them
for the remainder of the process.
Pre-conditioning helps to improve the end
product, as well as reduce process upsets
caused by a material that is too wet.

8. Testing a pre-conditioning process can help to
determine what drying parameters will be
required to reach the target moisture range.

9. Testing a pre-conditioning process can help to
determine what drying parameters will be
required to reach the target moisture range.
Additionally, if the target moisture is not known,
feasibility testing can help to define this.

10. To Confirm
End Product
Characteristics

11. Most manufacturers are looking to
produce a product with a specific set of
characteristics (bulk density, crush
strength, moisture content, attrition, etc.).

12. Most manufacturers are looking to
produce a product with a specific set of
characteristics (bulk density, crush
strength, moisture content, attrition, etc.).
Testing drying feasibility in this setting helps
to define the processing variables
required to reach the desired set of
parameters.

13. To Optimize
An Existing Process

14. Drying feasibility tests can also be used to
improve upon an existing process.

15. Drying feasibility tests can also be used to
improve upon an existing process.
This could include testing the addition of a
recycle loop, adding a back-mixing
process prior to the dryer, or simply
optimizing the process from an energy
standpoint.

16. To Design
A New Process

17. Drying feasibility tests are perhaps most
useful when designing a new drying
process.

18. Drying feasibility tests are perhaps most
useful when designing a new drying
process.
In this setting, feasibility tests will help to
define process variables, ensuring the
dryer will meet the exact needs of the
material to be processed.

19. Drying feasibility tests are perhaps most
useful when designing a new drying
process.
In this setting, feasibility tests will help to
define process variables, ensuring the
dryer will meet the exact needs of the
material to be processed.
This is particularly true when working with a
process that is highly experimental, or a
material that has not been processed
before.

20. What
Can be Tested?

21. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:

22. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material

23. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material
- Outlet moisture content of material

24. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material
- Outlet moisture content of material
- Inlet material temperature

25. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material
- Outlet moisture content of material
- Inlet material temperature
- Outlet material temperature

26. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material
- Outlet moisture content of material
- Inlet material temperature
- Outlet material temperature
- Material feed rate

27. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material
- Outlet moisture content of material
- Inlet material temperature
- Outlet material temperature
- Material feed rate
- Residence time

28. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material
- Outlet moisture content of material
- Inlet material temperature
- Outlet material temperature
- Material feed rate
- Residence time
- Inlet process air temperature

29. Drying feasibility tests can be used to
evaluate a multitude of characteristics.
The following data points are commonly
tracked and analyzed during feasibility
testing:
- Inlet moisture content of material
- Outlet moisture content of material
- Inlet material temperature
- Outlet material temperature
- Material feed rate
- Residence time
- Inlet process air temperature
- Outlet gas parameters

30. These parameters can be measured and
adjusted for during feasibility testing, in order to
determine the process conditions needed to
produce the desired end product results.

31. The FEECO Innovation Center is also
capable of testing both flight design and
pattern, two factors that can influence
drying efficiency significantly.

32. The FEECO Innovation Center is also
capable of testing both flight design and
pattern, two factors that can influence
drying efficiency significantly.
FEECO can also test the adjustment of
residence (retention) times by adjusting
speed and through the use of dams in
the dryer.

33. Conclusion
Feasibility testing offers valuable information for
both designing a new process, and optimizing an
existing one.

34. Conclusion
Feasibility testing offers valuable information for
both designing a new process, and optimizing an
existing one.
It can help to confirm process feasibility, as well
as define key data points, providing a recipe for
process scale-up.

35. has been a leader in the thermal processing
industry since the 1950s, providing process &
product development, feasibility testing,
maintenance services, and high-quality,
custom rotary dryers.
FEECO

36. Want to learn more?
Download our
Rotary Dryer Handbook
The Rotary Dryer Handbook
Rotary Dryer Sizing & Design
Processing Challenges
Service & Maintenance
And more…
Download Now