Trade press release
GEA: Pow(d)erful Expertise at POWTECH 2023 with the MOBILE MINOR® MM 100 Spray Dryer
26 Sep 2023
GEA, the machine and plant manufacturer and solution provider, has added the MOBILE MINOR® MM 100 to its MOBILE MINOR® spray dryer portfolio.
GEA presented the MOBILE MINOR® MM 100 at POWTECH 2023, complementing GEA's spray rocker portfolio. (Photo: GEA)
The spray dryer is equipped with the mechanical powder separator Cyclone CEE (Cyclone Extra Efficiency). This cyclone solution developed by GEA helps customers to overcome challenges in spray drying such as smearing due to powder settling in the cyclone as well as abrasion and the resulting costly production downtime. The MOBILE MINOR® MM 100 with the cyclone CEE was presented at the POWTECH trade show at the GEA booth (Hall 2, booth number 2-200) in Nuremberg, Germany, September 26-28, 2023. Under the slogan "Pow(d)erful Expertise", GEA showcased solutions for powder handling and chemical drying.
The MOBILE MINOR® MM-100: the latest in the product family with great potential.
The MM-100 spray dryer, equipped with the high-efficiency cyclone CEE (Cyclone Extra Efficiency), is the latest addition to the MOBILE MINOR® family. The MOBILE MINOR® MM-100 can operate with a process gas flow rate of up to 100 kg/h at an inlet temperature of 200 °C. For many products, this means a 30 percent increase in powder production compared to previous models. High-performance HEPA filters are available, for example for baby food or chemical applications, as well as powder collection tubes in sizes from 250 ml to 3500 ml.
Precise flow control of the hot dryer gases is the key to minimizing powder deposits. GEA uses computer simulations and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies to ensure a high level of precision. For nozzle atomization, the gas distributor of the rotary atomizer as well as the two-substance nozzle can be easily exchanged for a gas distributor with optional low velocity. The laser-cut gas guides are easy to remove and clean is a patented system.
The lid of the MM-100 dryer chamber has an O-ring that is available in a variety of materials. The optional sanitary two-material nozzle simplifies and reduces cleaning and ensures accurate reassembly.
Background information
The MOBILE MINOR® family
Since its introduction, the MOBILE MINOR® spray dryer has enjoyed a unique reputation as the perfect laboratory-scale spray dryer for exploring the possibilities of spray drying and producing small-volume powder samples. The cross-application MOBILE MINOR® spray dryer is now installed in nearly 2,500 plants worldwide.
The MOBILE MINOR® is available in several versions designed for different requirements, including drying of aqueous and/or solvent-based raw materials. Since different atomization techniques result in different droplet sizes and drying characteristics, the MOBILE MINOR® is available in three different atomization techniques:
- as rotary atomization
- atomization through a two-substance nozzle in co-current flow
- atomization by a two-substance nozzle in fountain mode
In addition, there are various options for powder collection, explosion protection, cleaning, data recording and other technical features.
The MOBILE MINOR® can be adapted to the processing requirements of many products and applications. However, safety always has priority. To produce inert powders with an aqueous starting material, the MOBILE MINOR® is standard - with blower, heater, drying chamber, cyclone and optional cartridge filter.
Since some powder air mixtures can form an explosive atmosphere, the MOBILE MINOR® can be manufactured pressure shock resistant (PSR). In addition, the dryer chamber has an explosion venting plate. A flame arrester can be supplied for use in rooms without an external vent.
Alternatively, explosive powders can be spray dried using nitrogen as the drying gas (MOBILE MINOR™ I). The blower is replaced by a valve arrangement for nitrogen process gas. Before opening, the system is cleaned with compressed air. Such a system can also be used for solvent-based feeds. All equipment, including the feed pump, must be EEx compliant for solvent-based applications.
For continuous nitrogen gas-based applications, a closed loop system (MOBILE MINOR® CC) is recommended, where most of the nitrogen is recirculated and the evaporated solvent is collected under the condenser.
GEA's Cyclone Extra Efficiency (CEE) Technology
For efficient and reliable powder separation, a well-designed cyclone is essential to avoid two common problems - smearing due to powder settling in the cyclone, and abrasion. GEA's latest cyclone solution, Cyclone Extra Efficiency (CEE) technology, helps customers overcome these challenges.
In powder separation, two undesirable phenomena, known as smearing and abrasion, can lead to blockages and powder buildup. The result is costly production downtime. Cyclones that are not optimally designed are susceptible to both, due to high velocity turbulence within them. Smearing (powder settling in the cyclone) is very problematic with grease-containing powder. The resulting blockages lead to stubborn deposits during the clean-in-place (CIP) process. Abrasion occurs when the particle size distribution of the powder deteriorates, which naturally reduces the separation efficiency and interrupts drying.
The improved cyclone performance provides a higher powder separation efficiency and minimizes smearing and abrasion. In this way, you not only achieve greater drying economy, but in some cases, you can even eliminate the need for downstream bag filters.
GEA's powder separation technology, the CEE cyclone, is suitable for drying food, dairy and chemical products and related industries. It was developed based on extensive laboratory testing, a comprehensive literature review and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modeling.
The main advantages of the CEE cyclone:
- Lower emissions due to higher powder separation efficiency
- Low risk of smearing and abrasion
- CIP nozzles can be used
- Robust, proven design
Contact
Dr. Michael Golek
About GEA
GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
GEA is listed on the German MDAX, the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is also a constituent of the leading sustainability indices DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World.
