Challenge
The material is lithium carbonate powder with a relatively high initial moisture content and noticeable stickiness. While tumbling, it tends to adhere to the drum wall and form hard lumps, requiring frequent shutdowns for cleaning and preventing continuous production. The customer also had clear requirements on the stability of the final moisture content.
Solution
A rotary design was used with an adjusted lifter pattern so that the material tumbles evenly and spends less time against the drum wall, avoiding build-up and caking. Stainless steel was used for the parts in contact with the material. Drum dimensions and hot air temperature were set according to trial run results rather than fixed capacity figures.
Result
After delivery the machine ran steadily, the final moisture content met the customer requirement, discharge remained smooth and cleaning frequency dropped noticeably.
Equipment in this case
Rotary Dryer
Capacity varies with operating conditions and is confirmed by a trial run; parameters fixed by machine size, such as air volume, can be stated precisely.
Related questions
Flash airflow dryer or rotary dryer: which one?
The two have different structures and suit different duties:
Flash airflow dryer
It dewaters through brief contact between high-temperature air and the material. Drying is fast, which suits inorganic salts and chemical powders that need rapid dewatering. Sizes are Φ220, Φ280, Φ325, Φ400, Φ500 and Φ600.
Rotary dryer
The rotating drum tumbles the material for more even heating. It suits sawdust, plastic pellets and flake materials that do not break up while tumbling.
How to decide
Look at the material form and whether it is sticky. Powders and fast-dewatering duties point to flash airflow; granular or flake materials needing even heating point to rotary. The moisture content and target final moisture still have to be considered.
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