Title: Investigating the effects of operating conditions on the exergetic performance of a pilot-scale spray-drying system

Authors: Zafer Erbay; Nurcan Koca

Addresses: Department of Food Engineering, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey ' Department of Food Engineering, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, performance of a pilot scale spray drier was evaluated by exergy analysis method. Performance parameters were investigated for the components of the drying system and overall system. Furthermore, the effects of process conditions such as atomisation pressure, inlet and outlet drying air temperatures on the performance of the spray drier were analyzed. While the most effective system component was determined as heater, atomizer was the most important component with the highest improvement potential rate. Results showed that high inlet and low outlet air temperatures caused high effectiveness for overall system performance.

Keywords: exergy analysis; performance evaluation; spray drying; sustainability index; operating conditions; outlet air temperature; atomisation pressure; inlet air temperature; spray driers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.050227

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.11 No.3, pp.302 - 321

Received: 08 Feb 2012
Accepted: 11 Apr 2012
Published online: 08 Nov 2012 *

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