Drying of Suspensions in a Fluidized Bed of Inert Particles Under Reduced Pressure

A drying method in which a heat-sensitive material is immersed in a fluidized bed under reduced pressure was used to continuously obtain dispersed, dry, fine powders of that material from a dilute suspension or solution at a low temperature with a high drying rate. The mass velocities of the drying gas, sample flow rate, and chamber pressure were varied, and the effects of these variations on the corresponding drying characteristics were examined. The fluidization state of a fluidized bed of inert particles strongly affects the drying rate in the bed and has a greater effect than the chamber pressure on the corresponding drying characteristics. In other words, it is important to maintain a vigorous fluidization state to achieve a high drying rate. Although the maximum drying rate is independent of the chamber pressure, it can be achieved at a low mass velocity of the drying gas under reduced pressure. That is, at a low chamber pressure a high drying rate can be achieved, even at a relatively low mass velocity of the drying gas. The bed temperature at the time of drying is strongly influenced by the drying rate and decreases linearly with an increase in the maximum drying rate when the sample flow rate is equal to the drying rate.