Column Processors

Column Dryers

The economical way to provide heat and long residence time to free-flowing materials.

Due to the long retention times possible, these columns are frequently used for diffusion controlled processes or purging products (e.g. catalysts) of residual monomer

The Column Drying Process

Column Dryers have been designed for plug flow and have a special gas distribution cone to ensure uniform counter-current gas flow up through the material.  The effectiveness of this design, results in very low gas flow rates thereby achieving low operating costs.   This is especially important when the process gas is nitrogen, steam or other treated gas.  

Residence time can vary from 1 to 24 hours, depending on the diffusion rate of moisture through the material.  Heating coils may be incorporated to enhance thermal input to the material.

The Column Dryer is well suited to process Polymers, Organic Chemicals, and Inorganics. However the feed to the Column Dryer must be non-sticky and in the form of free-flowing crumbs, granules, beads, pellets, or powder and are often employed as a second stage unit, following another GEA drying system.

GEA Insights

Future-proofing the cold chain with sustainable refrigeration

The importance of quality cold chain management cannot be underestimated. Ensuring that perishable foodstuffs are safe and of high quality at the point of consumption is a tremendous responsibility for those operating cold chain...

Josep Masramón and his daughter stand in front of their GEA batch milking installation.

How batch milking supports sustainable dairy farming

The latest evolution in automated milking introduces batch milking – a dairy farming practice where cows are milked in groups at fixed milking times, usually two or three times per day. The automation technology is helping to...

GEA supports clean water projects in Tanzania

Access to safe water and sanitation is still a challenge in a lot of countries. Illness from dirty drinking water and daily treks to fetch it, mean many children cannot attend school. Thanks to a collaboration with Hamburg-based...

Receive news from GEA

Stay in touch with GEA innovations and stories by signing up for news from GEA.

Contact us

We are here to help! With just a few details we will be able to respond to your inquiry.