Design and performance evaluation of a laboratory-scale fluidized bed dryer for polymer particles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65093/aci.v17.n2.2026.54Keywords:
fluidized bed dryer, polypropylene particles, heat transfer, drying kineticsAbstract
The design, construction, and performance evaluation of a laboratory-scale batch fluidized bed dryer for polypropylene particles is presented. Wet polypropylene particles obtained by water-assisted milling require controlled drying to avoid defects during subsequent processing. The proposed system is a simple and cost-effective configuration capable of operating under conditions that prevent polymer melting or thermal degradation. A heat transfer-based model was developed to describe the drying process, incorporating operating variables and dryer characteristics. A correlation for drying time per unit mass of dry polymer was obtained as a function of air properties, system geometry, and thermal driving force. Experimental tests under different operating conditions allowed identification of optimal temperature and air velocity to ensure efficient moisture removal while preserving polymer properties. Results demonstrate that the developed dryer achieves uniform drying and target moisture content within operational constraints, providing a practical framework for the analysis of fluidized bed drying systems at laboratory scale.
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