Bulk Material Handling

Hygroscopic products attract and retain moisture. From transporting of these materials to finished production and all stops in-between, any moisture problems can become costly.

Virtually every substance or compound has some affinity to absorb moisture from humid air and release moisture when the surrounding air is dry. In the case of hygroscopic ingredients, their affinity to absorb moisture from the air is particularly sensitive. This absorption of moisture causes many hygroscopic ingredients to stick and clump together. Once these products become sticky, they build-up inside railcars, silos, conveying lines and mixing machines. Build-ups cause product damage, blockages and disruptions in product flow, and further slows down processes in production, creating waste, sanitation and food safety problems, and overall causing costly downtime.

Dehumidification Protects Hygroscopics in Silos

Hygroscopic ingredients are commonly stored in silos. If humidity is high or if condensation occurs inside the silo, the products become sticky and slowly build-up on the silo walls and clump together.  Dehumidifiers are used to keep the air inside the silo at a specified temperature and lower dew point to prevent problems from occurring.

Pneumatic Conveying and Airveying Systems

Moisture regain causes many ingredients and powders that would otherwise convey smoothly, to stick together and build-up in conveying lines. This then slows down the process, creating sanitation problems, increasing scrap and, consequently, causes costly downtime.

As product is conveyed through the processing plant, sometimes different ingredients or materials require mixing before the final product can be reduced. As in all parts of the conveying process, if the materials or ingredients are moisture sensitive, moisture regain can cause production or product issues.

Providing conditioned air at the correct humidity and temperature levels for the specific product can ensure the product is mixed correctly and efficiently.

Benefits of Dehumidification

• Ensures quality of product
• Improves product flow
• Reduces product waste
• Prevents ingredient lumping and build-up
• Reduces production stops for cleaning
• Decreases drying time after sanitation