Heat balance of a multistage spray-dryer: principles and

example of application
Jean-Jacques Bimbenet, Pierre Schuck, Michel Roignant, Gérard Brulé, Serge
Méjean

To cite this version:

Jean-Jacques Bimbenet, Pierre Schuck, Michel Roignant, Gérard Brulé, Serge Méjean. Heat balance
of a multistage spray-dryer: principles and example of application. Le Lait, 2002, 82 (4), pp.541-551.
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Lait 82 (2002) 541–551
© INRA, EDP Sciences, 2002
DOI: 10.1051/lait:2002031 541

Original article

Heat balance of a multistage spray-dryer:

principles and example of application

Jean-Jacques BIMBENETa, Pierre SCHUCKb*, Michel ROIGNANTc,

Gérard BRULÉc, Serge MÉJEANb

a ENSIAA, 1 avenue des olympiades, 91744 Massy, France

b
Laboratoire de Recherches de Technologie Laitière, INRA, 65 rue de Saint Brieuc,
35042 Rennes Cedex, France
c Département agro-alimentaire, ENSAR, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France

Abstract – The authors present the principles of isenthalpic air drying, the use in drying of the
enthalpic diagram of air and mass and enthalpy balances. As an application of these principles, a pilot
multistage spray-dryer, operating on skim milk, was experimentally studied. Air flow rates were
measured by a hot wire anemometer at different positions of the air pipes. It was checked that the mass
flow rate of air delivered by a fan was independent of air temperature. A thermohygrometer was used
to measure the temperature and relative humidity of the air. The mass flow rate of concentrated
skimmilk was estimated from the characteristics of the spraying nozzle. Introduction of air into the in-
ternal and external fluid beds was taken into account. From these data, the heat balance showed a dif-
ference between inputs and outputs of 2.9% which may be interpreted as heat losses and probable
errors. The specific heat consumption was close to 4 900 kJ·kg–1 of evaporated water. This overall
value includes the rather low energetic efficiency of the small flow rates of air used in both fluid beds.
This specific heat consumption corresponds to 2.1 times the latent heat of vaporisation of water at
70 oC, i.e. a thermal efficiency of 48.8%. These figures represent a use of energy less efficient than in
industrial dryers, which may be explained by the small size of the plant, operating at only 122 kg of
concentrate and 70 kg of evaporated water per hour.

Spray-dryer / skimmilk / heat and mass balance

Résumé – Bilan énergétique d’une tour de séchage multiple effet. Les auteurs présentent les prin-
cipes du séchage isenthalpique par l’air chaud, de l’utilisation du diagramme enthalpique de l’air hu-
mide et des bilans de chaleur et de matière en séchage à l’air chaud. Ces principes sont appliqués à
l’étude expérimentale d’un séchoir pilote par pulvérisation, à lits fluidisés interne et externe, traitant
du lait écrémé. Les mesures ont été effectuées en régime établi. Les débits d’air ont été mesurés par

Communication at the 1st International Symposium on Spray Drying of Milk Products, Rennes,
France, October 16–18, 2001.
* Correspondence and reprints
Tel.: 33 (0)2 23 48 53 22; fax: 33 (0)2 23 48 53 50; e-mail: [email protected]
542 J.-J. Bimbenet et al.

des anémomètres à fil chaud, les teneurs en eau de l’air par des hygromètres et le débit de produit esti-
mé à partir des caractéristiques de la buse. À partir de ces données, le bilan thermique donne un écart
de 2,9 % entre les entrées et les sorties, explicable par des pertes de chaleur et les erreurs probables.
La consommation énergétique massique calculée est de 4 910 kJ·kg–1 d’eau évaporée, ce qui repré-
sente 2,1 fois la chaleur latente d’évaporation de l’eau à 70 oC. La faible efficacité énergétique des lits
fluidisés est incluse dans ces valeurs globales. Ces chiffres correspondent à une efficacité moindre
que celle des séchoirs industriels, ce qui peut s’expliquer par la faible température moyenne des airs
de séchage et la petite taille (70 kg d’eau évaporée par heure) de l’installation étudiée.

Séchoir par pulvérisation / séchage par atomisation / lait écrémé / bilan masse et énergie

1. INTRODUCTION useful to evaluate the ESC of dryers to opti-

mise the production and reduce the cost. It
Drying, consisting of lowering water ac- can be done mainly by an increase in the to-
tivity, is an efficient method of preservation tal solid of the concentrate, an increase in
of biological products, since it does not re- the inlet air temperature or a reduction of
quire severe heat treatment and allows stor- the outlet air temperature. The increase in
age at ambient temperature. Large amounts the difference between the inlet and the out-
of liquid dairy products (skim and fat milk, let air temperatures reduces the ESC of dry-
whey, various fractions resulting from ers [5]. Before reducing this ESC, it is
membrane and chromatographic separa- necessary to know the mass and energy bal-
tions) are dried in order to make feed, food ances. With the improvement of technology
and ingredients. Most of these powders are (the three-stage spray-dryer), the air cir-
produced by spray-drying. In this tech- cuits are more numerous. Thus, the mass
nique, the liquid is sprayed in droplets of, and enthalpy balances are more complex to
e.g. 50 µm, in a large drying chamber con- realise. There are no publications on this
taining air heated to around 200 oC. The subject.
temperature of the product itself is not This paper shows an example of such
raised much over the temperature of the exit measurements, through the calculation of
air, i.e. under 100 oC. Since the drying is mass and enthalpy balances with the use of
very fast, a few seconds, the thermal dam- the enthalpic diagram to visualise operating
age is limited. Classical spray-dryers are conditions.
associated with a fluid bed which usually
agglomerates the fine powder coming from
the drying chamber, completes its drying and 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
cools it. In the recent models (“3 effects”), an-
other fluid bed is integrated at the bottom of
The drying equipment was a pilot
the drying chamber, with agglomeration
(GEA-NIRO, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines,
and drying functions. The main drawback
France) 3-effect spray-dryer (evaporating
of drying operations in general is their con-
capacity: 70 kg·h–1) as represented in Fig-
sumption of energy, which, in spite of prog-
ure 1 (from Schuck et al. [4]), operating on
ress resulting, in the case of spray-drying,
skimmilk.
from this integrated fluid bed, remains
around 1.5 to 2 times the latent heat of Air flow rates at different points (Fig. 2)
vaporisation of water. The “Energetic Spe- were measured with hot wire anemometers
cific Consumption, ESC” (Bimbenet [1]), at 5 positions of the section of straight cy-
in kJ per kg of evaporated water is powerful lindrical ducts, according to Masters [3].
for dryers and the comparing effects of dry- The weighted average of velocities multi-
ing operating parameters. It is therefore plied by the total cross section gave the
 Heat balance of a multistage spray-dryer 543

1 – Feed pump 9 – Secondary cyclone

2 – Feed flow 10 – Outlet air fan
3 – Sprayer 11 – Integrated fluid bed
4 – Inlet air fan 12 – Pressure conveying system
5 – Air heater 13 – Vibro-fluidizer air fan
6 – Drying air 14 – Vibro-fluidizer
7 – Drying chamber 15 – Fines reincorporating into the atomization zone
8 – Primary cyclone 16 – Rotary valve

Figure 1. Multiple effect spray-dryer, Bionov, Rennes, France.

volume flow rate. Three replications were flow rate was not modified when air was
performed, with a standard deviation of heated up to 200 oC. This was due to oppo-
2%. These measurements were done at am- site effects of temperature on pressure
bient temperature. It was checked that up- losses in the equipment, through decreased
stream (i.e. before the heaters) the mass air density and viscosity and increased
544 J.-J. Bimbenet et al.

1 – Inlet air 10 – Outlet air

2 – Integrated fluid bed air 11 – Outlet vibro-fluidizer air (= 4 + 5 + 6)
3 – Pressure conveying system air 12 – Auxiliary surrounding air for the primary
4 – First part of vibro-fluidizer air (VF 1) cyclone
5 – Second part of vibro-fluidizer air (VF 2) 13 – (= 11 + 12)
6 – Surrounding air 14 – Outlet air (= 10 + 13)
7 – Outlet air (= 1 + 2 + 3) 15 – Outlet (= 14)
8 – Auxiliary surrounding air for the primary 16 – Drying chamber
cyclone 17 – Primary cyclone
9 – Outlet air (= 7 + 8) 18 – Secondary cyclone

Figure 2. Measurement points of air mass flow rates and temperatures.

 Heat balance of a multistage spray-dryer 545

velocity. Therefore, we considered that the Table I. Results of measurements.

mass flow rate of dry air delivered by the
fans was not significantly modified by tem- Positions Dry air Temperature
perature. mass flow rate (oC)
(kg dry air·h–1)
The mass balances of water were calcu-
1 1718 200
lated from the data of equipment manufac-
turers, who consider that 99% of water is 2 672 70
evaporated in the tower (93% in the spray 3 81 25
and 6% in the integrated fluid bed) and 1% 4 225 50
in the external fluid bed, according to 5 237 35
Sougnez [5] and Westergaard [6]. 6 136 25
7 2567 -
Air-specific enthalpies were read on a 8 255 25
Mollier-Ramzine enthalpic diagram (Fig. 4) 11 614 -
or calculated by the classical formula: 12 0 -
H = [1.01 θ + Y(2.494 + 1.92 θ)] · 103, with 15 3404 69
origin of enthalpies at 0 oC.
Specific heat of concentrate: – powder: 57.2 × 10–3 kg water·kg–1 pow-
cp = 3.0 kJ·kg–1·oC–1 and of powder: der (i.e. 942.8 × 10–3 kg solids·kg–1 pow-
cp = 1.5 kJ·kg–1.oC–1 (Kessler [2]). der), temperature: 30 oC.
More details are given by Schuck et al. [4].
3.2. Mass balances

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Figure 3 has been used to give an easier

view of the system for mass and enthalpy
3.1. Results of measurements balance calculations.
We calculate the total evaporation:
The results of the measurements are Solids flow rate in the concentrate is:
given in Table I. The other flow rates (no 9 –
121.8 × 0.3954 = 48.2 kg solids·h–1.
10 – 13 – 14) could not be measured for .
practical reasons. They were calculated on The powder mass flow rate m is such as
the basis of dry air mass balances as ex-
.m × 0.9428 = 48.2 kg solids·h–1p, based on
p
plained in Section 3.2. the hypothesis of constant solids flow rate.
Inlet air temperature (before heating)
.
So: mp = 51.1 kg·h–1.
was 25 oC and relative humidity 40%, re- The evaporation rate is 121.8 – 51.1 = 70.7 kg
sulting in a water content Y = 0.008 kg wa- water·h–1.
ter·kg–1 dry air, according to the enthalpic
diagram (point FA, for fresh air). Evaporation rate in the tower: 99% of the
total, i.e.: 0.99 × 70.7 = 70.0 kg water·h–1.
The data concerning the product (con-
centrate and powder) were taken from ex- Evaporation rate in the external fluid bed:
periments conducted earlier on the same 1% of the total, i.e.: 0.01 × 70.7 = 0.7 kg
plant (Schuck et al. [4]): water·h–1.
– concentrate mass flow rate: 121.8 kg con- 3.2.1. On the tower itself
centrate·h–1, solid concentration: 395.4
× 10–3 kg solids·kg–1 concentrate, tem- Since measurements have been made on
perature: 40 oC, inlets and outlets only, there is no possibility
546 J.-J. Bimbenet et al.

[air 14]
[air 9] •
• (m=3436)
(m =2822) (Y=0.0285)
(Y=0.033) (H=151)
15
3 7 9 10 14
•
m =81 (Y=0.008) •
θ =25°C (H =46) m =2567
[air 15]
(θ=88 °C) •
(Y=0.035) m =3404
1 (H=181) θ=69 °C (75 °C)
(Y=0.0285)
• (H=151)
m =1718 (Y=0.008)
θ=200 °C (H=225) TOWER

14 bis
adjustment 3 bis adjustment
• =96)
(m θ=25°C
(Y=0.008) (H=46)
13
•
(m=614)
2
(m• =32)
•
m =672 (Y=0.008) θ=69°C (75°C)
θ=70 °C (H=92) (Y=0.0285)
(H=151)
8
•
m =255 (Y=0.008)
θ=25 °C (H=46)
12
•
m =0
4

•
m =225 (Y=0.008)
θ=50 °C (H=71) FLUID 11
5
BED •
m =614 (Y=0.009)
• θ=42 °C (H=67)
m =237 (Y=0.008)
θ=35 °C (H=56)
6
• •
m =136 (Y=0.008) m=16 (Y=0.008)
θ=25 °C (H=46) adjustment θ=25 °C (H=76)

Figure 3. Characteristics of air in the system.

No parentheses: measured values.
In parentheses: calculated values.
mÖ is in kg dry air (DA)·h–1; Y in kg water (W)·kg–1 DA; H in kJ·kg–1 DA.
 Heat balance of a multistage spray-dryer 547

of considering drying in the spray zone and Y = 0.008 + (0.7/614) = 0.008 + 0.001 =
in the internal fluid bed separately. 0.009 kg water·kg–1 dry air.
– Dry air flow rates: It shows that the external fluid bed has a
.
Total inlet = points 1 + 2 + 3: m = 1718 + very limited drying action: only 1 g of evap-
672 + 81 = 2471 kg dry air·h–1. orated water per kg of dry air.
.
Outlet = point 7, measured: m = 2567 kg 3.2.3. On the cyclone section
dry air·h–1.
– Dry air flow rates:
A difference of 96 kg dry air·h–1 appears .
(i.e. 4%), originating from measurement er- Points 9 or 10 = points 7 + 8: m = 2567 +
rors, but also from a possible uncontrolled 255 = 2822 kg dry air·h–1.
air inlet, since the whole equipment is in de- .
Point 13 = points 11 + 12: m = 614 + 0 =
pression. To adjust the balance, we add a –1
614 kg dry air·h .
fictitious (and/or possibly physical) inlet of .
Points 14 and 15 = points 10 +13: m = 2822
fresh air (3bis). + 614 = 3436 kg dry air·h .–1
– Water mass flow rates (calculated figures
are rounded up to a reasonable number of . Compared to the measured flow rate
(m = 3404 kg dry air·h–1), there appears to
significant digits): be an excess of 32 kg dry air·h–1 (less than
.
In inlet air: mW = 2567 × 0.008 = 20.5 kg 1%). We then add an adjustment outlet flow
water·h–1. (14bis).
.
Water in air outlet (point 7): mw = 20.5 + – Water flow rates:
70.0 = 90.5 kg water·h–1. .
Points 9 or 10 = points 7 + 8: mw = 90.5 +
Water content in air outlet: (255 × 0.008) = 92.5 kg water·h–1.
Y = 0.008 + (70.0 / 2567) = 0.008 + 0.027 = Water content in air 9 or 10: Y = 92.5 / 2822
0.035 kg water·kg–1 dry air, also equal to = 0.033 kg water·kg–1 dry air.
90.5: 2567. .
Point 14 = points 10 + 13: m w = 92.5 + 5.5 =
We notice that every kg of dry air carries 98 kg water·h–1.
27 g of water extracted from the product. Water content in air 14 or 14bis or 15: Y =
98/3436 = 0.0285 kg water·kg–1 dry air.
Point 15 = points 14 – 14bis: m. w = 98 –
3.2.2. On the external fluid bed
– Dry air flow rates: (32 × 0.0285) = 97 kg water·h–1.
.
Total inlet = points 4 + 5 + 6: m = 225 +
237 + 136 = 598 kg dry air·h–1. 3.3. Enthalpy balances
.
Outlet = point 7 mp = 614 kg dry air·h–1.
3.3.1. On the tower itself
Similarly as above, we add an adjust- .
ment flow rate (6bis) of fresh air: 16 kg dry – Air inlet: the enthalpy flow rate H (in
air·h–1 (about 2.5% of the total inlet). kJ·h–1), is the sum of inlet enthalpies (points
1 + 2 + 3 + 3bis):
– Water flow rates: .
. H = (1718 × 225) + (672 × 92) + (81 × 46)
In air inlet: mw = 614 × 0.008 = 5.0 kg wa- + (96 × 46) = 457 × 103 kJ·h–1.
ter·h–1.
. The fictitious mixture of these inlets
Water in air outlet (point 11): mw = 5.0 + 0.7 would have a specific enthalpy of H = 457 ×
rounded to 5.5 kg water·h–1. 103/ 2567 = 178 kJ·kg–1 dry air. According
Water content in air outlet (point 11): to the enthalpic diagram (Fig. 4), taking
548 J.-J. Bimbenet et al.

A’ .

A.

9..7 .7’
.
C .15

11 .
B.
.FA
8

Figure 4. Enthalpic Mollier-Ramzine diagram of wet air.

(HR: Relative humidity; Pr = 1 for atmospheric pressure).
 Heat balance of a multistage spray-dryer 549

into account the value of Y, this mixture which adds 3.5 × 103 kJ·h–1 to the inlet flux
would be represented by the point A, where of enthalpy.
we read a temperature of 153 oC (which is – Air outlet (point 11):
rather low for this type of dryer).
. .
.
– Concentrate inlet: H = m.cp.θ = 121.8 ×
H =(36× 103) +(3.5× 103) =39.5× 103 kJ·h–1
3.0 × 40 = 14.5 × 103 kJ·h–1. with a specific enthalpy of: H = 39.5 × 103 /
614 = 64 kJ·kg–1 dry air. This value, as well
– Powder outlet. We suppose here that
as the water content (Y = 0.009) allows us
all the powder leaves the tower towards the
to position the point 11 on the diagram and
external fluid bed (we neglect powder out-
read a temperature of 43 oC.
lets of cyclons) and we suppose it to be at
80 oC (a mis-evaluation of this temperature The shortness of the path from point B to
has only a slight effect on the enthalpy bal- this point 11 shows that the cooling and
ance) and containing the 0.7 kg·h–1 of water drying effects of this external fluid bed on
to be evaporated in the external fluid bed: the product have a very small influence
. . on the global water and enthalpy balances
H = m.cp.θ = (51.1 + 0.7)× 1.5 × 80 = 6 ×
of the whole system.
103 kJ·h–1.
– The enthalpy balance of the tower 3.3.3. On the cyclons section
writes:
. We have neglected the flows of powder
(457 × 103) + (14.5 × 103) = (Houtlet air) +
in this part.
(6 × 103) kJ·h–1.
– Air 9 or 10 = points 7 + 8:
We
. then have for the outlet air 7: .
H = 465.5 kJ·h–1. H = (465.5 × 103) + (255 × 46) = 477.5 ×
corresponding to a specific enthalpy of 103 kJ·h–1.
H = 465.5 × 103 / 2567 = 181 kJ·kg–1 dry air – Air 14 = points 10 + 13:
and (with Y = 0.035 kg water·kg–1 dry air), .
H = (477.5 × 103) + (614 × 64) = 517 ×
a temperature of 88 oC was read on the dia- 103 kJ·h–1,
gram.
with H = (517 × 103) / 3436 = 150 kJ·kg–1
3.3.2. On the external fluid bed dry air.
Similarly, we write: – Air 15 = points 14 – 14bis:
.
– Air inlet (point 4 + 5 + 6 + 6bis): H = 517 × 103 ( (32 × 150) = 512 kJ·h–1.
. Therefore, this air outlet (H = 150 kJ·kg–1
H = (225 × 71) + (237 × 56) + (136 × 46) +
(16 × 46) = 36 × 103 kJ·h–1. dry air, Y = 0.0285) has a calculated temper-
ature of 74 oC (point C), to be compared with
The specific enthalpy of this fictitious a measured one of 69 oC (corresponding to
mixture would be: H = 146 point 15).
H = 36 × 103 / 614 = 59 kJ·kg–1 dry air. It appears therefore that there are
We could therefore (using Y = 0.008) enthalpy losses + / – errors of:
position it in B on the enthalpic diagram, .
H = 3436 (151 – 146) = 17 × 103 kJ·h–1.
and read a temperature of 39 oC.
– Powder, entering at 80 oC and leaving 3.3.4. Global enthalpy balance
at 30 oC:
. . Table II shows that the enthalpy balance
inlet H =m.cp.θ =52× 1.5× 80=6×103 kJ·h–1 for the whole system (tower and fluidised
.
outlet H = 51.1 × 1.5 × 30 = 2.5 ×10 3 kJ·h–1 bed) is equilibrated.
550 J.J. Bimbenet et al.

3.4. Energetic efficiency The heat loss of 17 × 103 kJ·h–1 repre-

sents 5% of the total spent energy, which is
ESC (Energetic Specific Consumption), also rather high, due to the small equipment
the ratio of consumed energy to evaporated size (therefore a high ratio surface/volume)
water, is useful for comparing dryers or and possible low insulation, but this cannot
drying parameters with respect to energy. explain 52% of losses.
.
The energy consumed ∆H to heat differ- The only possible explanation is that it
ent inlet airs is calculated (Tab. III) as prod- takes 3436/70.7 = 49 kg of dry air to evapo-
uct of dry air mass flow rates and enthalpy rate 1 kg of water. This air enters the pro-
differences ∆H. The results are that cess at 25 oC and is rejected at 69 oC, which
339 kJ·h–1 are spent for the tower (10% of corresponds to a considerable loss of en-
this for the internal fluid bed) and only ergy. This figure (49 kg dry air per kg water)
8 × 103 for the internal fluid bed. is higher than in industry due to the rela-
Global ESC: tively low (153 oC) air inlet temperature.
ESC = (347 × 103) / 70.7 = 4910 kJ·kg–1 This can be shown by an approximate
evaporated water. calculation on the tower alone, using the
enthalpic diagram, on the basis of the same
We may dissociate: evaporation rate. If the air inlet temperature
ESC (tower): (339 × 103) / 70.0 = was 200 oC (point A’) instead of 153 oC and
4810 kJ·kg–1 evaporated water. the outlet maintained at the same calculated
ESC (external fluid bed): (8 × 103)/0.7 = value of 88 oC (point 7’), this outlet air
11400 kJ·kg–1 evaporated water. would contain Y = 0.052 kg water·kg–1 dry
air (instead of 0.035). Every kg of dry air
This last value is very high, which is nor-
would carry: 0.052 – 0.008 = 0.044 kg of
mal: the external fluid bed is not devised to
water (instead of 0.027), which corre-
be an efficient dryer.
sponds to: 1 / 0.044 = 23 kg of dry air to
If we consider that water evaporation evaporate 1 kg of water (instead of 1 / 0.027
took place at around 70 oC, corresponding = 37 kg). The mass flow rate would be:
to a latent vaporisation heat of 2330 × 70.0 / 0.044 = 1590 kg dry air·h–1 .(instead
103 kJ·kg–1 water, we spent 2.1 times this of 2567), and the heating energy: H = 1590
theoretical value (efficiency: 1 / 2.1 = 48%). (225 – 46) = 285 × 103 kJ·kg–1 dry air (in-
These figures are worse than the indus- stead of 339 × 103 , cf. Tab. III, sum of the
trial ones: why is it so? heating energies of airs 1 and 2). The ESC

Table II. Global enthalpy balance (kJ.h–1).

Inlets Outlets
Air to tower 457 × 103 Air outlet (69 oC)
3436 × 146 = 501 × 103
Air to external fluid bed 37 × 103 Powder 2.5 × 103
Air 8 12 × 103 Loss 17 × 103
Concentrate 14.5 × 103
Total inlets 520.5 × 103 Total outlets 520.5 × 103
 Heat balance of a multistage spray-dryer 551

Table III. Consumed energy (kJ.h–1).

.
Dry air ∆H ∆H
mass flow rate (kJ.kg–1 dry air) (kJ.h–1)
(kg dry air.h–1)
Air 1 1718 225 – 46 308 × 103
Air 2 672 92 – 46 31 × 103
Air 4 225 71 – 46 6 × 103
Air 5 237 56 – 46 2 × 103
Total 347 × 103 kJ.h–1

for this tower would become: 285 × 103 / easy to show similarly the influence of exit
70.0 = 4071 kJ·kg–1 water, instead of 4810. air temperature, of air recycling, etc.
In fact, the comparison of the slopes of the
lines FA-7 and FA-7’ gives an idea of the Symbols
expectable improvement in this change of
parameter (Bimbenet [1]). cp specific heat kJ·kg–1·oC–1
H specific enthalpy
4. CONCLUSION . of air kJ·kg–1 dry air
H enthalpy flow rate kJ·h–1
.
m mass flow rate kg·h–1
This study shows how to establish mass
and heat balances on drying equipment and Y water content of air kg water·kg–1 dry air
what conclusions may be drawn from that. θ temperature oC

The global air mass flow rate is approxi-

mately correct, since the algebraic sum of
flow rates adjustment is an inlet of 80 kg dry REFERENCES
air·h–1 (2.5% of total inlets), part of it being
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shows that measuring air flow rates on (Ed.), Drying ‘82, Hemisphere Publ. Corp.,
“cold” equipment seems to be acceptable. Washington, USA, 1982, pp.121–128.
[2] Kessler H.G., Food engineering and dairy tech-
After having done these calculations, we nology, Verlag A. Kessler, Freising, Germany,
realised that more air temperature measure- 1981.
ments would have been useful to validate [3] Masters K., Spray-drying, Longman Sci. &
the calculations at each step. Technic., Harlow, UK, 1991.
The enthalpic diagram of air here proves [4] Schuck P., Roignant M., Brulé G., Méjean S.,
Bimbenet J.J., Caractérisation énergétique d’une
its interest in the fast estimations necessary tour de séchage par atomisation multiple effet,
for heat and mass balances and in the dis- Ind. Alim. Agric. 115 (1998) 9–14.
cussions about Energy Specific Consump- [5] Sougnez M., Évolution du séchage par
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