Science of Fluid Bed Heat Transfer
What’s the difference if drying or cooling air moves vertically through the fluid bed or at an angle? Angled air that flows at even slightly more or less than 90 degrees creates dead spaces in the fluid bed where drying is weak and hot spots where drying is too strong. The results are often:
- Uneven product flow
- Product charring
- Clogging
- Product layering
- Frequent stoppages for cleaning
- High reject rates
But in a Witte drying or cooling system, air flows vertically, perpendicular to the fluid bed deck, and at a constant velocity. This ensures uniform heat history throughout the entire length of the system. The result is a thin layer of product in intimate contact with the air flowing delicately and evenly from feed to discharge, with the first product in as the first product out – every time. This is the hallmark of the Witte Company and the foundation of Witte’s signature vertical air flow engineering.
Witte engineers have developed a series of advances that make consistent vertical air flow possible. When combined in a Witte system, these advances make drying and cooling virtually anything not only possible but also practical and cost-efficient.
Learn more about vertical air flow from your Witte engineer. Call 908.689.6500.