Industry: Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Mfg (NAICS 3114)
NAICS process:
311411 Frozen Fruit and Vegetables
311421 Canned Fruit and Vegetables
311422 Canned Specialty Products
311423 Dried and Dehydrated Products
Process Brief: Moisture in fruits and vegetables is removed using hot air.
Energy source: Steam/Natural gas
Energy Intensity:
Pneumatic ring driers produce dried gravy and soup mixes, starches, and dehydrated mashed potatoes. Typically, the incoming product is less than 40% water. Most pneumatic driers use a vertical column of hot air that keeps the product in suspension as it dries. As the product loses moisture, it is more easily entrained and is recirculated through a ring that returns the product to the air column for additional drying. The velocity and temperature of the air flow determine the drying rate and management of the recirculation of the product determines its final moisture level. High temperature driers with short retention times are useful for expanding the starch in dried carrots and potato flakes. This expanded starch is an important part of the rehydration function of the finished product.
Pneumatic ring driers can dry products in less than ten seconds and are sometimes called flash driers. The units have relatively low capital costs and fast drying times which makes them desirable technology. Production rates for modern units can be as high as 25 tons per hour. The hot air can come from direct combustion of natural gas or, more commonly, indirect heating from steam tubes.
Manufacturers
Barr-Rosin Inc.
92 Boulevard Prevost
Boisbriand, Quebec J7G 2S2
Canada
Telephone: 450-437-5252
Barr-Rosin (USA) Inc.
255 38th Avenue, Suite G
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
USA
Telephone: 630-659-3980
Web site www.barr-rosin.com
The Dupps Company
548 N Cherry St
Germantown, OH 45327
Telephone: 937-855-6555
Web site: www.dupps.com