Pilot/Demo Dryer

Pulse Combustion Systems is headquartered in Payson, Arizona, and it is there that all PCS testing, development, and production takes place. It is home to our  PCS Model P-50  pilot-scale dryer and demonstration lab. The pilot dryer was designed to be large enough to demonstrate pulse atomization spray drying on an industrial scale, yet small enough to produce scalable results with as little as three gallons of feed material.  The Pilot Dryer has viewports for observation of atomization and drying, and PCS strongly encourages customers to visit the plant and see firsthand the advantages of pulse drying.

The pilot dryer has been used to test many diverse feedstocks, and has proven the superiority of pulse atomization spray drying across a wide range of products, from foods, to nutriceuticals, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and minerals.  Dryer turnaround between products can be as short as one hour, because the dryer is completely modular for quick disassembly, cleaning, and assembly. This enables us to maintain sanitary conditions despite the large variety of products that are dried. It also helps limit cross contamination between different batches of the same material.

Testing and development is made very easy by the flexible design of the pilot dryer.  The dryer has a very large “operating envelope” of inlet and outlet temperatures and atomization intensity.  There are two main configurations: with cyclone and sanitary baghouse, or sanitary baghouse only. We also have multiple pumps for liquids of differing properties. This modular quality of the pilot dryer ensures our success in drying almost all products.

Observation also is of prime importance on the pilot dryer. Removable viewports on the drying chamber give a view of the action inside and, when reaching inside, even allow the material to be felt during atomization. Powder production rates are easily seen through the transparent collection vessels. Even the baghouse can be quickly inspected between runs.