Comments for Dryers Blog http://www.industrialdryers.com IndustrialDryers.com Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:35:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Dryers and Drying by Scott Jones http://www.industrialdryers.com/2012/01/17/dryers/#comment-2 Scott Jones Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:35:15 +0000 http://blog.industrialquicksearch.com/dryers/?p=38#comment-2 I agree. As an operation of prehistoric origin, drying is one of the oldest and most common functions of processing. It is normally not associated with innovation. It is interesting to note, however, that about 250 patents – the titles of which contain the words “dryer”, “drier,” or “drying” – are issued by the U.S. Patent Office every year. Today, there are over 200 variants of industrial dryers found in practically all major industrial sectors and some 50,000 materials are estimated to require drying on varying scales. There is, however, no “silver bullet” in drying technology. Drying and dewatering is a combination of science, technology and art (or know-how based on extensive experimental observations and operating experience). The significant R&D growth in drying and dewateringin the western world was triggered by the energy crunch of the early 1970s which increased the cost of drying several-fold within only a few years. Energy conservation still remains one of the main concerns in drying today. The majority of novel drying technologies, which evolved through a process of evolutionary improvements, were built to offset some or all of the limitations faced in operating conventional dryers. Novelty per se is not adequate justification for embracing new technology; it must be technically superior and cost-effective compared to the current technology. For drying technologies, one or more of the following attributes may call for an innovative replacement of existing products, operations, or processes: • New product or process not made or invented heretofore. • Higher capacities than current technology permits. • Better quality and quality control than currently feasible. • Reduced environmental impact. • Safer operation. • Better efficiency (resulting in lower cost). • Lower cost (overall). • Better control, more flexibility, ability to handle different products. This is an excerpts from an article featured on Drying titled: Feedstock Drying: No "Silver Bullet" appearing in the the upcoming February edition of Biomass Products & Technology (BPT) http://www.gobiomass.com/ I agree. As an operation of prehistoric origin, drying is one of the oldest and most common functions of processing. It is normally not associated with innovation. It is interesting to note, however, that about 250 patents – the titles of which contain the words “dryer”, “drier,” or “drying” – are issued by the U.S. Patent Office every year.

Today, there are over 200 variants of industrial dryers found in practically all major industrial sectors and some 50,000 materials are estimated to require drying on varying scales. There is, however, no “silver bullet” in drying technology. Drying and dewatering is a combination of science, technology and art (or know-how based on extensive experimental observations and operating experience).

The significant R&D growth in drying and dewateringin the western world was triggered by the energy crunch of the early 1970s which increased the cost of drying several-fold within only a few years. Energy conservation still remains one of the main concerns in drying today.

The majority of novel drying technologies, which evolved through a process of evolutionary improvements, were built to offset some or all of the limitations faced in operating conventional dryers. Novelty per se is not adequate justification for embracing new technology; it must be technically superior and cost-effective compared to the current technology.

For drying technologies, one or more of the following attributes may call for an innovative replacement of existing products, operations, or processes:
• New product or process not made or invented heretofore.
• Higher capacities than current technology permits.
• Better quality and quality control than currently feasible.
• Reduced environmental impact.
• Safer operation.
• Better efficiency (resulting in lower cost).
• Lower cost (overall).
• Better control, more flexibility, ability to handle different products.
This is an excerpts from an article featured on Drying titled: Feedstock Drying: No “Silver Bullet” appearing in the the upcoming February edition of Biomass Products & Technology (BPT) http://www.gobiomass.com/

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