Challenge : Drying the Gold Powder
Challenge Owner : G. Rajendran
Problem :
We are manufacturing gold powder for our internal process through water atomization process. I need an idea to dry this powder in the lowest possible time (less than an hour) with a moisture content level to support the free flow of powder ( Hope TATA Tea & TATA chemicals can add value here as some of their drying process requirement is similar to this)
Winning Solution Owner : Amitabh Tapadar
Company : Voltas
Winning Solution :
We at Tata Chemicals were trying to dry highly hygroscopic substances like citric acid; in this case a fluidized bed dryer is of good use as it dries to the desired consistency which ensures free flow. Having a air stream at the bottom of the FBD which makes the particles float in the air ensures uniform blast of air all over the surface of the particle. The bag collectors on top of the FBD also ensure that the powder fines are not lost, something which will be very critical in gold as even the fines have high value!
This solution proved successful – drying time reduced from 16 Hrs to 1 Hr!