Significantly improving Potash quality and process efficiency.

Potash Conditioning System

The GEA Potash Conditioning System features a conditioning drum and fluid bed for glazing, polishing and drying of granular Potash which significantly improves product quality and operating efficiency. The lifters, drum angle, spray pattern, rotation speed and residence time can be adjusted meet the required product specification.

Conditioning Drum

The GEA Potash Conditioning System

The product potash feed from the client's upstream process is introduced to the conditioning drum at a continuous and stable feed rate with consistent moisture content and temperature. As the particles travel through the drum, spray water nozzles glaze and condition the potash with a fine misting of water for uniform product coating, while the drum promotes rapid product tumbling for optimal polishing.

The wetted product is subsequently discharged directly into a fluid bed dryer via a discharge chute. The material is distributed across a sloped directional fluidizing bed plate which propels the material towards the discharge end of the fluid bed. The plate is dimensioned to provide plug flow, allowing an optimal degree of fluidization while upward airflow prevents material from falling through to the lower plenum. An adjustable underflow discharge gate valve controls the material bed depth which varies the retention time and enables rapid and complete emptying of the unit.

Process fluidization air is supplied by a forced draft fan and exhaust gases are passed through a baghouse for dust collection before discharge to atmosphere via an exhaust fan. Slightly sub-atmospheric conditions are maintained above the bed by means of a balanced system of forced and induced draught fans which eliminate the need for air seals at the feed and discharge points.

Features

  • Efficient and effective surface wetting of the potash granules
  • Granules roll over one another in a high humidity environment for the duration of the drum residence
  • Rounding of granules without breakage
  • Rapid drying
  • Evaporative cooling

Benefits

  • Ensures even granule coating
  • Promotes rounding and hardening
  • Minimizes the dust loading of the exhaust air and the reclaimed fines for re-compacting
  • Flashes residual moisture off quickly leaving a hard re-crystallized surface
  • Reduces energy consumption

Typical Flow Diagram

Conditioning system flowsheet

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