counterflow
counterflow
Applying counterflow, the most efficient heat exchange principle, to the drying of your product ensures the lowest energy consumption per liter of evaporated moisture.
Counterflow dryers
gas, steam or electric
drying of feed and food
Dryers on gas or steam consume more than 50% of the total thermal energy of a typical extrusion line. Counterflow dryers save energy and plant space compared to other dryer types.
Vertical, gravity flow design without horizontal surfaces avoids cross contamination. The risk of dust build-up is minimized. Cleaning frequency is reduced and cleaning is faster than horizontal dryers.
Semi continuous batch processing enables quick change-over between different products, without waiting for the dryer to be empty.
Uniform exposure of product to warm drying air leads to high moisture uniformity. The variation in product bed depth and number of beds enables shorter or longer drying times.
Counterflow recovery of heat from the exhaust air allows 60-75% reduction in thermal energy use when combined with a heat pump. Partial or full electrification is possible, as well as step by step conversion from gas burners to heat pumps.
Counterflow Remote Diagnostics provides feedback to the plant about potential efficiency improvements.
performance that counts
75
% energy saving
Drying with energy recovery and electric heat pumps will save 60-75% energy compared to drying with gas or steam
99
% up-time
Geelen dryers can run 24/7 with limited planned downtime for maintenance and cleaning, leading to maximum up-time.
99
% decarbonisation
Geelen facililitates full decarbonisation of drying by electricity, steam, hot water, biomethane or hydrogen
product features
gravity flow
gravity flow
Applying gravity flow to transport your product through the dryer, ensures the cleanest possible process, without horizontal surfaces that could lead to cross contamination. It also makes the dryer very low on maintenance because of the low number of moving parts.
stainless steel
stainless steel
Not only the product contact parts are stainless steel, but also the air contact parts in the dryer. That is why dryers of the 1980’s are still running today. Extending the life time of components is crucial in building a circular economy. Stainless steel is the nr. 1 circular construction material in the economy today.
continuous flow
continuous flow
Our continuous feed or food dryers provide evaporation capacities up to ~ 750 liters per hour. Product is uniformly exposed to hot drying air while it slowly makes its way from product distributor to discharger, just like in a counterflow cooler. One or two drying decks. Energy source: natural gas, steam, hot water, biomethane or electricity.
batch flow
batch flow
Batch flow (semi-continuous) is applied for evaporating between a few hundred and many thousands of liters per hour, with 5 to 15 modular drying decks and up to 7 different temperature zones. Fast change-over between different products.
gas burners
gas burners
Gas burners for natural gas, propane, butane, biomethane or hydrogen.
steam heaters
steam heaters
Steam heat exchangers can be installed next to a single deck dryer, or in the compact air recirculation unit for multi-deck dryers.
heat pumps
heat pumps
Heat exchangers with heat pumps can reduce net energy consumption of a dryer by 60-75%, and decarbonise the energy consumption if consuming clean electricity.
belt distributor
belt distributor
In batch dryers, a PLC controlled belt distributor ensures a flat bed from the first drying deck downwards. The distribution pattern is adjusted to correspond to the dryer’s batch time, as selected by the operator.
rotating distributor
rotating distributor
For continuous dryers a height-adjustable rotating distributor and rake are required to keep the product bed even from the first product to the last product
dosing valve
dosing valve
The dosing valve ensures that false air cannot enter the dryer, while at the same time ensuring the uniform feeding of downstream transport systems or coating systems, without risk of product damage.
compact air units
compact air units
Cyclones, airfan, heat exchanger and gas burner are all installed in a modular double walled insulated air unit net to the dryer. Multiple such units can be stacked on top of each other, depending on the size of the dryer and the number of temperature zones.
there for you
Our field service team is there for you. From our headquarters, we are connected to your dryer or cooler. We suggest improvements to the energy efficiency or connect remotely to the dryer control system for training and trouble shooting. If necessary our service engineers based in Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America will be there for you.