Clean nozzles optimise production by reducing spray dryer hazards

Combustible dust is a fire and explosion hazard when food manufacturers spray-dry milk and other food products into a powder format. The primary source of the risk is the residues that form in the pressure nozzles when liquid dairy or food concentrates are atomised into small droplets before drying.

Danish technology supplier GEA Process Engineering has patented a nozzle purging system to eliminate the hazard and, at the same time, prevent unwanted microbiological growth and loss of yield.

Automated purging improves hygiene and reduces fire risk

The nozzles are routinely taken out for cleaning and replaced during operation, and it is this procedure that can lead to the formation of unwanted food residues. Using the GEA Clean Purge system, such residues can be expelled from the nozzle prior to the replacement operation. In this way, there are no deposits left that could compromise hygiene or initiate a self-combustion process.

In addition to improving safety in the production plant, the cleaning system provides significant operational savings by reducing cleaning frequency and improving equipment efficiency overall. Water, energy and chemical consumption are significantly lower with the system installed.

Higher yield and significant savings in cleaning and energy

GEA Clean Purge is the only fully patented solution that significantly reduces safety risks, representing an important step forward for food and dairy powder production. Besides addressing the primary cause of fire and explosions in food and dairy spray dryers, the Clean Purge system from GEA offers significant and valuable product and operational savings.

a typical plant that operates with a 24/7 concept and produces 5-7 tons of powder per hour, would be able to increase the annual yield by approximately 40-60 tons at daily operations.

The savings will be obtained by reduced cleaning frequency, reduced water, energy and chemical consumption, lower costs for wastewater disposal and higher overall equipment efficiency. Simply by eliminating feed remaining in the system before cleaning cycles, a typical plant that operates with a 24/7 concept and produces 5-7 tons of powder per hour, would be able to increase the annual yield by approximately 40-60 tons at daily operations.