Three-pass rotary dryer for feather meal

This dryer provides the advantages of a simple, sturdy and reliable equipment. Even more,
the main benefits are consequence of the three-pass configuration:

 Compact design: the effective length of drying is around three times the external length of
the equipment.

 Direct and indirect heat transmission: besides the direct heat transmission from the hot gas
to the solid material, there is an advantageous indirect heat transmission from a pass to the
following through the dividing sheet. This tends to give a more uniform gas temperature. In
comparison with one pass, the maximum temperature (at the entrance) is lower, and the
minimum temperature (at the output) is higher.

Why is preferred a lower temperature

at the entrance? Ans.: Drying at high
temperature produces a kind of sudden-
drying of the surface of the solid
particles, so that its pores shrink and
almost close, leading to crust formation
or "case hardening". In that undesirable
situation, the final product would keep
excessive non-removable water in the
interior of the particles, and it would not
be possible to achieve the moisture and
quality specifications of the final feather
meal.

Why is preferred a higher temperature

at the output? Ans.: While the gas
moves along the dryer, it loses
temperature and gains humidity, so that
it approaches saturation. The result is a
gas with lower capacity to remove moisture from the feather meal. The indirect heat transmission
from the first pass to the second, and -more important- from the second to the third, increases the
driving force for the “exhausted gas” to continue drying. This feature allows achieving a significantly
lower final moisture when compared with ordinary one-pass dryers.

 Finally, the heat losses are reduced to a minimum. The hottest portion is internal, in the
center of the equipment (first pass): it has no contact with the surroundings. The external
surface is in contact with the gas at its lowest temperature. Even more, the area of the
outer surface -responsible for heat loss- in a three pass dryer is considerably less than the
corresponding to a one-pass dryer with the same residence time (up to 70% less).

Features
- Diameter: 1200 mm. Main length: 2440 mm.
- Rolled sheets: ASTM A-36. First and second pass: 1/14”. Third pass
(external): 1/8”.
- 3” shaft. Solid ends. 45 mm bearings. 3 HP reducer motor. Sprocket
and chain transmission. 7 ~ 8 rpm.
- Internal radial baffles.
- Endless feeder at the input of hydrolyzed feather.
- Versatile: it can work with combustion gases from clean fuels or
with hot air from a heat exchanger heated by dirty, cheap fuels.