SUGAR DRYING AT ITS BEST

Drying is an essential step in producing quality products suitable for market, leading many of the sugar industry’s leading producers to rely on FEECO for their drying system needs.

FEECO rotary dryers provide a reliable, gentle drying solution for sugar producers looking to reduce moisture content on a continuous basis. Whether processing sugarcane or sugar beets, FEECO rotary sugar dryers offer efficient drying for a range of products, from sugar crystals to bagasse, and even pressed pulp (cossettes).

Drying (and Cooling) Sugar Crystals

Drying and cooling are critical steps after centrifugation at the refinery, as sugar temperature and humidity must be carefully controlled to maintain product integrity, ensure free-flowing particles, and prevent issues such as caking or melting during storage.

A counter-current drying configuration is typical, as this promotes a more gradual evaporation of moisture, as well as crystallization of the syrup on the surface of crystals. 

Drying Beet Pulp (Cossettes) From Sugar Beets

When used to prepare sugar beet pulp or cossettes (also known as wet pulp) for use in animal feed, drying promotes a better product by improving handling qualities, creating a product with ideal storage properties, preparing the pulp for pelleting, and reducing transportation costs. 

In all sugar drying settings, rotary dryers employ lifting flights to pick up material, carry it over as the drum rotates, and drop it through the products of combustion (or in the case of a cooler, chilled air). Proper flight design is essential to achieving the optimal “curtain” of material in the drum’s cross section to maximize heat transfer. 

Drying systems are also designed to operate at a negative pressure, creating a vacuum inside the rotating drum to minimize dust losses and promote energy efficiency.

ROTARY DRYERS: THE CHOICE FOR SUGAR PRODUCTION

No matter what material is being dried, the sugar drying process centers on carefully controlling conditions to meet exacting product goals, requiring precision in both design and fabrication.

Rotary dryers are often the preferred type of industrial dryer in this setting thanks to their high capacity, flexible design, and long-term reliability. 

FEECO has been manufacturing custom rotary dryers since 1951, giving us unmatched expertise in developing equipment that is optimized to product and process goals, as well as built for longevity. All FEECO dryers are built to stringent quality standards for a reliable, heavy-duty drying solution. 

In addition to drying equipment, FEECO can also supply rotary coolers with the same quality standards for use in cooling sugar prior to storage or bagging. 

SUGAR DRYER TESTING & OPTIMIZATION

The FEECO Innovation Center is a unique testing facility where we can test a variety of sugar-based products in a pilot-scale rotary dryer to simulate commercial-scale drying under a variety of conditions, including co-current or counter-current air flow. Flight design can also be tested. 

A number of process data points can be gathered and manipulated during testing to establish and refine the optimal process conditions needed to produce the desired product quality efficiently.

This includes:

• Burner fuel usage
• Current (amps)
• Drum slope
• Fan speed
• Feed and product rates
• Temperature (Feed end, internal, product, exhaust gas)
• Residence/Retention time
• Rotational speed
• System pressures
• Gas sampling & analysis

Parts & Service

As a leader in custom rotary dryers and coolers, FEECO provides a comprehensive offering of parts and service to keep your equipment running its best for years to come. This includes a variety of field services, process and equipment audits, spare parts, and more.