Conventional NIRO® spray dryer

Powder spray drying without compromise

Our conventional NIRO® spray dryer is a cost-efficient system that is ideal for processing non-agglomerated high bulk density and very fine powders with particle sizes of 5-300 μm, dependent on the nozzle system used. Supplied with either our highly reliable rotary atomizer or with our COMBI-NOZZLE®, high pressure nozzle or 2-fluid nozzle options, the system is designed to give you trouble-free drying without complexity. Inherently agile and user friendly, the conventional NIRO® technology allows fast uncomplicated switchover between products, which is a real boon for industries such as food flavors, where you may need to process multiple different products on the same day. 

The spray dryer of choice for a wide range of applications

Our customers around the world rely on the conventional NIRO® spray dryer as a robust mainstay for processing powdered chemicals and food ingredients, especially for applications where dispersion in water isn’t a primary requirement. GEA has vast experience installing conventional NIRO® spray drying plants for a broad range of applications including flavors, gelatin, pre- and probiotics, yeast, proteins, polymers, lithium battery materials, inorganic and organic chemicals. 

Conventional NIRO® spray dryer at a glance:

• Available as a robust, cost-efficient system for reliable single stage drying 
• Can be configured with the GEA rotary atomizer, or with different nozzle options
• Compatible with GEA fluid bed technology to enable two-stage drying and light agglomeration
• Individual systems designed with the level of hygiene and protection against contamination needed to match the requirements of your industry, whether that’s industrial chemicals or food ingredients. 
• Highly adaptable technology makes it easy to process multiple products on one system
• User-friendly operation, easy inspection and automated cleaning
• GEA expertise on hand to help fine tune spray dryer function 

How it works

The conventional NIRO® spray dryer is probably best known as a single-stage dryer, and in this configuration the powder’s final moisture content is determined at discharge from the drying chamber. Atomization of the feed concentrate is made either through our rotary atomizer or through nozzles. The drying air is delivered separately through the air disperser at high velocity so that the air and droplets of atomized concentrate mix thoroughly. Evaporation of water is just about instantaneous as the droplets of concentrate pass through the drying chamber.

In the standard set-up powder is taken out from the bottom of the drying chamber, where if required it can be cooled if connected to a pneumatic conveying system. Exhaust air will be taken out from the chamber and typically led to a high efficiency cyclone followed by a bag filter. The fines collected by the cyclone will be mixed with the powder fraction from the chamber.

We can also connect our VIBRO-FLUIDIZER® fluid bed to the base of the drying chamber so you can carry out a second stage of drying/cooling. Then it is also a possibility to return the fines collected to the cyclone to the top of the dryer for light agglomeration. This will result in a less dusty powder with improved free flowing characteristics. 

Spray dryer upgrades and options 

It’s our goal to provide the best solution for your needs, and that means we’ll aim to maximize system efficiency and productivity, while staying in budget, so you can be sure of the most cost-effective technologies for your processes. But we are GEA, and that means we’ve also made sure the conventional NIRO® spray dryer technology is anything but ordinary. So, when you do want to be a bit more flexible or if you have a particular business or operational goal in your sights, we can work with you to upgrade the system, and add functionality or sophistication. The conventional NIRO® spray dryer is compatible with a range of hardware and software upgrades and optional extras that can add features, boost efficiency and yield, and help to optimize your process and plant performance and sustainability.

Hygiene and safety in spray drying, 24/7  

Equipment safety and operational health and safety are never taken for granted. All GEA equipment is designed to comply with the highest levels of safety, but we also aim to go one step further. We have developed clever tech that can give you an additional layer of confidence and security. Ask about our, DRIVENT® 2.0, COTECTOR® and Fire Safety System, which can help to prevent potential safety risks, monitor for fire and explosion risks, and support 24/7 production. 

The conventional NIRO® spray dryer systems can be supplied with automated clean-in-place (CIP) units, depending on the application. Automated CIP can reduce the need for manual cleaning tasks, reduce cleaning time, and also potentially reduce water and chemicals use, and so cut wastewater volume and associated treatment.

Focus on spray dryer efficiency and quality

Integrated into your plant our technologies can help you to improve equipment performance, and so boost efficiency and quality by creating more a consistent powder, and enabling longer production runs between cleans. Our CEE cyclones are recognized worldwide for their effectiveness and efficiency, while our GEA SANICIP® II bag filter further helps to reduce product loss and so improve productivity and also final powder quality. 

Stable and resource-efficient powder processing

Every sector of industry is tasked with improving process sustainability and reducing environmental footprint. We’ve researched how and where technology can let you save and recycle energy and resource consumption. Take a look at our digital GEA OptiPartner advanced process control system, heat recovery units and energy-saving AddCool® heat pump technology. In combination these technologies can dramatically improve process stability and energy efficiency. Just talk to your local GEA representative to find out more.

Test and assess before purchase

Our GEA global test centers of excellence are hubs of expertise where the best GEA minds can develop, assess and showcase our products, and where we give you the opportunity to evaluate GEA technologies and test your processes before you invest. At our center of excellence in Soeborg, Denmark and at our center in Colombia, US you can get first-hand experience with different conventional NIRO® spray dryer configurations, and work with our spray drying specialists to design the optimum system for your needs. You can also witness GEA innovations, upgrades and upstream/downstream systems in action, so you can think about the best options for your plant, both today, and for your vision for the future.