Conditioned drying in drying rooms

In areas with a high humidity level, drying with outside air is very limited. The drying process of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAP) demands a lot of energy. Closed cells with a cooling-drying installation (heat pump) provide a solution and save a lot of energy. The rooms are built around the drying installation.

 

 

Depending on the needs and use, the lay-out and measurements of the cells are determined: 1 or more row of boxes per cell or 1 large cell with drying on 2 sides, 3-4-5-6 boxes stacked high. Volumes up to 30 or 40 m³ per row are possible.

 

 

A cooling block hangs within the cell, which suctions the air through a hatch from the outside to the inside. The suctioned air is cooled down through the unit to achieve the desired moisture content in the cell. Above the fan a heating battery is placed to heat up the air to the desired temperature per row. It reduces the RH and the air can absorb the humidity from the MAP. Excessive heat can be discharged to another section, another cell or externally. An external heating source can be used to create additional heating rapidly.

 

The advanced ABC processor controls the whole installation and dries the MAP to the desired moisture content; the most suitable (dry) air (outside or inside air) is suctioned. The air will be cooled down to achieve the desired Absolute Moisture Content (AH, in gr/kg of air) of the air, using condensation. Afterwards the air will be reheated, so it is able to absorb more air. The air from the MAP will become drier than the outside air, and internal air is automatically used for the remaining drying process.

 

 

When the MAP are moist, and/or the outside air is dry, outside air is aspirated (on the left). When the air in the cell becomes drier than outside, inside air is partially used (in the middle). When the outside air is too moist or the air from the MAP is dry, only inside air is used for the drying process (on the right).

 

 

Next to the cooling-drying units, hatches are placed to discharge humid air. They are connected to suction hatches; 100% outside air means 100% opened position (on the left), 50% recirculation produces 50% discharge (in the middle) and with complete recirculation the discharge hatches are closed (on the right).

 

In narrow cells or wide cooling-drying units, the outlet hatches are placed behind the inlet hatches.

 

The box width and height depend on the MAP.	Low boxes for plants in little bags or MAP in cotton bags.
Overhead doors facilitate optimal use of the cell capacity.	The lay-out and design of the cells with boxes are client-specific. We will advise you.