Abstract
A new spouted-bed configuration (rectangular cross-section with air entry through two bottom slots) was investigated as a dryer of milk and a paste mixture of milk and blackberry pulp. The aim was to analyze hydrodynamic stability and the effects of operating conditions on powder production efficiency. For the best conditions of paste-feeding flow rate, air temperature and inert type, hydrodynamic was stable and powder production efficiency was greater than 75%. The slot-rectangular spouted bed allowed for tripling of the paste-feeding flow rate at a lower air velocity compared to the conventional geometry, showing its potential for process scale-up.
Notes
a Standard deviation.
b Average deviation.
*Var. = variation.
**Measurement accuracy (ΔP ± 10.4 Pa, U T ± 0.007 m/s).
*Var. = variation.
**Measurement accuracy (ΔP ± 10.4 Pa, U T ± 0.007 m/s).
*Var. = variation.
**Measurement accuracy (ΔP ± 10.4 Pa, U T ± 0.007 m/s).
*M = 2.0 kg of PS.
**M/B = Milk-blackberry pulp (w/w).
Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/ldrt.