Rotary dryers offer a highly flexible solution to drying bulk solids ranging from specialty chemicals to minerals and ores. But with all this flexibility and opportunity for customization often comes confusion on what configuration will provide the most efficient solution for the job at hand. Continue reading →
Our photo this week highlights a frac sand dryer. Internal flight design and placement was customized to maximize heat transfer between the frac sand and drying air, utilizing full curtain flighting. Additionally, the flights were bolted to the interior of the drum shell for easy Continue reading →
Rotary kilns use extremely high temperatures combined with controlled retention times to cause a chemical reaction or phase change in a material. At certain temperatures (different per each material), a material will undergo a chemical reaction or phase change. This is often necessary to bring Continue reading →
Rotary kilns (also known as rotary calciners) are used to heat solids to a predetermined temperature in a controlled processing environment in order to create a chemical and/or physical reaction. While rotary kilns have long been used in producing cement, their flexible capabilities have extended Continue reading →
Though far less common than the need to dry or thermally treat a bulk solid material, some process settings call for preheating a material in preparation of downstream processing. In achieving this objective and meeting the high tonnages associated with bulk solids processing, rotary dryers Continue reading →
The process of sizing a rotary dryer is one of precise engineering involving complex calculations and meticulous design. While the process is not well simplified into a few paragraphs, an explanation can be offered as to some of the concepts behind the process of rotary Continue reading →
While indirect coolers are used far less commonly than their direct cooling counterparts, they are often the best solution in a few specialty applications. A direct cooler relies on direct contact between the material and chilled air in order to cool the material, which can Continue reading →
Cycling and chemical incompatibility are the two main causes of refractory failure in a rotary kiln. Cycling Cycling is the heating up and cooling down of a rotary kiln, and it is the largest source of refractory failure. Refractory expands with the kiln as it Continue reading →
Rotary kilns use heat to cause a physical change or chemical reaction in a particular material, and can be utilized to carry out a variety of processes. One of the more common processes carried out in a rotary kiln is heat setting. This refers to the act of Continue reading →
Rotary dryer misalignment is oftentimes the result of improper base installation. Misalignment in the base will quickly spread through the rest of the drum, causing wear and damage to other drum components. In addition, misalignment can occur naturally over time as part of normal rotary Continue reading →
