THE 8th LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION - CLAGTEE 2009
Economical Analysis of the Spray Drying
Process by Pre-Dehumidification of the Inlet Air
A.N. Madeira, UNITAU, J. R. Camargo, UNITAU.
Abstract - Spray drying is a dehumidification process by
atomization in a closed chamber that aims to remove moisture of
a product by heat and mass transfer from the product's contained
water to the air that, in this process is previously heated. This
paper presents a case study for an industry that produces food
ingredients. The current process applied in the product to heat
the air can uses one of these two systems: a direct heating process
that burns liquid petroleum gas in contact with the inlet air or
indirect heating that uses a heat exchanger which heat the air.
This heating system consumes 90% of the total process energy.
However, this inlet air can reach the dehumidifier with high
moisture from the atmosphere condition requesting, in this case,
more energy consumption according to the year's seasons. This
paper promotes a utilization study of the current process through
the installation of a pre-dehumidification device of the inlet air
and shows a study to three different dehumidification systems
that means by refrigeration, adsorption and actual comparing
their performance in an energetic and economical point of view.
The goals of this study are to analyze the capacity of moisture
removing of each removing device, the influence of moisture
variation of the inlet air in the process as well as the economic
impact of each device in the global system. It concludes that the
utilization of dehumidification devices can eliminate the heating
system reducing this way the energy consumption. Moreover it
promotes the increasing of moisture gradient between the inlet air
and the product optimizing the drying process and increasing the
global energy efficiency in the global system. Choosing the most
appropriate system for the pre-dehumidification device depends
on the desired initial and final moisture content of the product,
but applying pre-dehumidifiers at the inlet air promotes an
energetic optimization in the spray drying process.
Index Terms-- Air transportation, Atmospheric measurements,
Spraying, Food industry, Manufacturing economics, Optimization
methods, Energy management, Powders.
I. NOMENCLATURE
Q - Consumed energy by the air heater (kJ)
MLPG - Consumed LPG mass (kg)
PCLPG – Calorific power = 11500 kcal = 48148.2 kJ
Mar – Air mass (kg)
(hfinal – hinitial) – Enthalpy difference between the points after
and before the air heater.
MH2O - Water mass or water removes capability or drying
capability.
Mar – Air Mass (kg).
J. R. Camargo is professor of the Mechanical Engineering Department at
University of Taubaté (UNITAU), Taubaté City, Brazil.
A. N. Madeira is student in the Master Program of the Mechanical
Engineering Department at University of Taubaté, Taubaté City, Brazil.
1
(Wfinal - Winitial) – Absolute humidity difference between the
points after and before the drying chamber.
e – Total inlet mass flow
he - Total inlet enthalpy
s – Total outlet mass flow
hs – Total outlet enthalpy
eair - Inlet air mass flow
heair - Inlet air enthalpy
p – Product mass flow
hep - Inlet product enthalpy
ew - Inlet water mass flow
hew - Inlet water enthalpy
sair – Outlet air mass flow
hsair – Outlet air enthalpy
hsp - Outlet product enthalpy
sw - Outlet water mass flow
hsw- Outlet water enthalpy
Cp – Specific heat of the product
Tep- Inlet product temperature
Tsp- Outlet product temperature
II. INTRODUCTION
T he human beings, endowed with its intelligence, had
searched forms, during all history, to win the obstacles
taxes for the nature. In such a way, it was developing and
inventing technological instruments with the objective to
surpass difficulties. This work will go to deal with a
technology of known drying as Spray Drying, that today is
considered the most usual and more important technology of
drying, being surpassed the freeze drying. The Spray Drying is
a process of drying for atomization. Which active principle is
encapsulated and form the microcapsules. The drying process
by atomization known as spray drying is the most used
dehydration process in industries, mainly on food industries.
As an example is the dying of powder milk, powder juices,
flavors, botanical extracts and other food ingredients. The
drying process aims to remove moisture of a product by
dispersion of this product in a drying chamber. In this
chamber, a pre heated air flow makes contact with the
humidified product. At this moment the air flow changes heat
with the product and it transfers water mass to the air. The
humidified air takes out the humidity of the chamber as well as
the dried product is obtained with low moisture. The average
is less than 5%. Among the most important parameters are the
air flow and its conditions. Besides, the psychrometrics
concepts are extremely important.
These concepts can explain the influence of air in the
product quality. Thus the Psychrometric analyses are
fundamental when the industries are projecting a spray dryer.
THE 8th LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION - CLAGTEE 2009
III. STATE OF ART
A. Spray Drying Process
Spray drying is characterized by the process stages involved
to complete the drying operation. The liquid feedstock (usually
aqueous) is first atomized into a spray of spherical droplets,
and then contacted with a drying medium (usually air) with
results in evaporation of moisture from the droplets. Drying
proceeds as the droplets and the air pass through the drying
chamber [11].
Spray drying can be described by a process involving
liquid spraying, droplet drying, particle formation, powder
collection and handling. Spraying or “atomization” can be
confusing initially. “Atomization” has no association with
atoms and nuclear physics but covers the process of liquid
bulk break-up into billions of individual droplets forming a
spray, which is directed into hot air or an inert gaseous
medium [11].
Figure 1 shows a basic spray dryer flow diagram, it was
extract from Masters [11].
Fig. 1. Basic spray dryer flow diagram
The drying process is characterized by moisture removing
up to desired values in order to be guaranteed the product
stability for a specific time, under pre established conditions.
The drying presents a series of advantages in relation to other
conservation process, mainly by weight reduction and storage
under room temperature [4]
The dehydration which uses artificial heat is in function of
time, temperature and ventilation, carefully controlled
parameters. Among the heat transfer vehicles, the air is the
most used, due to its abundance, convenience and its heat
control doesn’t present problems [9].
In specialized literature, microcapsules are defined as
particles with diameter from 1 to 1000µm, containing the
material of nucleus involved by special membrane, freeing it
on desired moment. The nucleus material can be constituted by
small solid particles, liquid drops or gas which in an
encapsulation process is covered by a film or membrane.
There are many kinds of physical structure of microcapsules,
such as mono nucleus or multi nucleus spheres and multi
nucleus irregular particles. The manufacture conditions
determine the capsule type resulted, which the most common is
mono nucleus. The content of the microcapsules is named
“active agent” or “internal phase” or “nucleus” by technical
2
literature. However, when mentioning the material that forms
the external part, the texts normally use the terms “covering”,
“membrane”, encapsulation agent”, “carrier”, “rind” or “shell”.
The material of the nucleus comprehends, in general, 80% to
85% of the capsules. The encapsulated substance can be set
free by mechanic action, that is, for disruption of the rinds by
means of pressure or by physicist-chemistries variations of
temperature or pH in the way where the capsules is found,
acting on the membrane. The microcapsules have some
utilities, for example, the shelf life of a volatile composition
can sufficiently be increased by microencapsulation; therefore
the membrane hinders its evaporation. The microcapsules can
also protect a material in the nucleus of the effect of the
ultraviolet radiation, humidity or of the contact with oxygen.
Besides, the chemical reactions between two active species can
be prevented by the physical separation offered by the
membrane. The density of a product can be increased by
encapsulation, or be diminished, by air inclusion in the
capsule, that is, a dense solid can be converted by this process
in a product capable to float in the water. Very fine powders
can be microencapsulated to reduce agglomeration’s trends.
The microencapsulation can still modify the color, the form,
the volume or the photo sensibility of the encapsulated
substance [5].
The drying for atomization (spray drying) is one of the
most used methods for the microencapsulation, due to great
availability of equipment, low cost of the process, possibility
of job of an ample variety of encapsulating agents, good
retention of volatile composites and stability of the end item
[13]
Air temperature, one of the most important process
variables, has the lowest model predicted error. Humidity air,
is also predicted well, nevertheless, the associated
experimental uncertainty is high due to the time required for
getting trusty on-line results [2].
The lesser is temperature, for the same relative humidity air
or water activity, the bigger will be the water in final powder
for Cajá fruit powder [1].
Many aspects of the particle formation process in spray
drying are controlled by the relationship between surface
recession and diffusion of the solutes. The mobility of the
components changes during the evaporation process due to
increasing solution viscosity or precipitation events. The
details of the precipitation mechanisms are difficult to
describe, because nucleation and crystal growth processes are
rather inaccessible experimentally and a theoretical description
is hindered by a lack of material properties in supersaturated
solutions. However, the steady-state evaporation process up to
the point of particle solidification can be successfully studied
both experimentally and theoretically as shown in this paper.
Radial de-mixing of components can be understood and
predicted in the context of dimensionless numbers, the Peclet
number and the initial saturation of the solutes. Knowledge of
the radial distribution of the components immediately prior to
solidification in combination with empirical studies on single
component particles allows prediction of the morphology of
multi-component particles. Improved understanding of the
THE 8th LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION - CLAGTEE 2009
particle formation process has lead to the successful design of
structured micro particles with functional layers [18]
B. Psychrometrics Conception
Psychrometry is concerned with determination of the
properties of gas-vapor mixtures. The air-water vapor system
is by far the system most commonly encountered.
Principles involved in determining the properties of other
systems are the same as with air-water vapor, with one major
exception. Whereas the psychrometric ratio (ratio of heat-
transfer coefficient to product of mass-transfer coefficient and
humid heat, terms defined in the following subsection) for the
air-water system can be taken as 1, the ratio for other systems
in general does not equal 1. This has the effect of making the
adiabatic-saturation temperature different from the wet-bulb
temperature. Thus, for systems other than air-water vapor,
calculation of psychometric and drying problems is
complicated by the necessity for point-to-point calculation of
the temperature of the evaporating surface. For example, for
the air-water system the temperature of the evaporating surface
will be constant during the constant-rate drying period even
though temperature and humidity of the gas stream change.
For other systems, the temperature of the evaporating surface
would change [12]
Psychrometric is the study of the mixtures between air and
water vapor, that is, the study of air moisture (in the limit,
study of binary mixtures in which one of the components is a
condensable vapor).
The Psychrometric can be applied in climate control, in
special in air conditioning for thermal comfort; condensation
in cold surfaces (the dew on the gram in one morning cold, the
water on the external surface of a beer cup), etc; the
evaporative cooling and the white tracks left by the turbines of
the airplanes [17].
The Psychrometrics properties are Dry Bulb Temperature,
Wet Bulb Temperature, Relative humidity, Absolute humidity,
Specific enthalpy and specific volume. There are the following
psychrometrics processes: Heating, Humidification, Cooling
and Dehumidification, Mixture of two air flows and Blowing
in the environment [8].
All these mutable properties should be measured with
accuracy every time which wish determine what occur in the
air and how the air varies, characterizing, so, the time at a
given time and place. The accuracy of measures is going to
depend, in a biggest matter, on accuracy of used instruments
[14].
The air relative humidity is normally measured by
psychrometers, hygrometers and registered by hydrographic,
however, at present; there are electronic sensors which also
allow the monitorization of continuous or instatement
humidity, when operated by acquisition data system [14].
Under atmospheric conditions, some air’s parameters can be
calculated by free calculators [16].
C. Dehumidifiers
1) Refrigerating system
In a refrigerating system the humidity is reduced by
cooling the air below dew point. A part of the moisture in the
3
air is condensed and drained out [7]. If your home doesn’t
have air conditioning, it may rely upon a dehumidifier to
reduce uncomfortable, muggy humidity in room air. A
dehumidifier uses refrigeration principles the way an air
conditioner does, but it doesn’t cool the air, in fact, it warms it
slightly. A dehumidifier is a box that contains cold evaporator
coils, warm condenser coils, a fan, and a reservoir or drain to
catch water (see the illustration below). The fan blows
moisture-laden room air over the cold coils, where water
condenses and drips into the pan or drain. The drier air then
blows across the warm coils and back into the room. It makes
more comfortable because it decreases the humidity. But a
dehumidifier does not function well under about 18 degrees
Celsius.A dehumidifier’s fan must have electric power, the
evaporator coils must contain a proper charge of refrigerant,
and the controls must work properly for the dehumidifier to
operate. In the same way that a thermostat controls a heater or
air conditioner, a dehumidifier is cycled off and on by a
humidistat that measures a room’s humidity [19].
2) Adsorption system
Adsorption is the used term to describe the phenomenon in
which molecules of a fluid are concentrated spontaneously on
a solid surface. This phenomenon occurs as resulted of not
balanced forces acting between the solid surface and the fluid,
which they attract and holds back molecules of the fluid. The
solid on which the adsorption occurs is called adsorbent; the
restrained chemical species for adsorbent calls adsorvate and
the fluid in contact with the surface is called adsorptive.
Adsorbent is a porous solid material, with a great area of
internal surface for unit of mass and, structurally, they
remember rigid sponges. The adsorbed water is contained by
condensation inside of the capillaries formed in the proper
crystalline structure of the material. The adsorbent’s capacity
to attract humidity depends on the size of its pores and of the
relation between the amount of water in its surface and the
content of humidity of air. This difference is reflected in the
vapor pressure in the surface and air. Normally, a commercial
desiccant holds back between 10% and 1100% of its dry mass
in water vapor, depending on its type and the humidity of the
environment [10].
The adsorption phenomenon is known since century XVIII,
when it was observed that certain species of coal held back, in
its pores, great amounts of water, which was set free when the
coal was heated. In the lasts decades, with the advance of the
research and the knowledge in the area, the adsorption passed
to be used as an important unitary operation inside of chemical
engineering, as, for example, in the purification processes,
where it was generally used in a fixed stream bed column,
filled with adsorbents, in order to remove the humidity of a gas
chain.
The adsorption phenomenon is due to all desiccants which
attracts and holds back humidity until reaches a balance with
atmospheric air. The humidity usually is removed heating the
desiccant until temperatures between 50ºC and 320°C,
displaying it a reactivation air flow (or regeneration). After to
be dried, the desiccant must be cooled so that it can attract the
humidity again, that is, the process is regenerative, therefore
the substance adsorbent, after to be saturated of humidity,
THE 8th LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION - CLAGTEE 2009
allows the release of water when submitted to a regenerative
heating (desorption). In this process, the set free energies are
relatively low. The processes to attract and to hold back
humidity can be made by adsorption or absorption. The
adsorption is a reversible physical phenomenon where if
adsorbent normally observes the deposition of adsorvate layers
on the surface. It is a process similar than sponge absorbing
water, that is, it is the process to deposit molecules of a
substance (water, for example) in the surface of another
substance.
In an adsorption system the humidity is reduced with an
adsorbent material as silica gel or activated alumina.
Adsorption is a physical process in where moisture is
condensed and held on the surface of the material without any
change of in the physical or chemical structure of the material.
The adsorbent material can be reactivated by heat [7].
The adsorption system has been used with other systems on
air conditioning equipment. The Evaporative cooling system
mixed with adsorption system presents good perspectives,
mainly to use in air conditioning, where there are low cost heat
sources or residual heat available, as cogeneration systems [3]
D. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
The Liquid Petroleum Gas or gas of kitchen consists of a
gaseous mixture of hydro-carbon obtained from natural gas of
the reserves of the subsoil, or from the refining process of the
raw oil in the refineries. The LPG is conditioned inside of
cylinders in liquid state. The cylinder when full, it contains in
its interior 85% of LPG in liquid state and 15% in vapor state.
The LPG in liquid state starts if to transform into vapor the
measure that the devices the gas are used. A strong
characteristic of the LPG is not to possess color nor smells
proper. However, by security reason, a substance of the
Mercaptan group is added to the LPG still in the refineries. It
produces smells it characteristic when she has a gas emptying.
LPG is a hydrocarbon mixture in either liquid or gaseous
state where the main components are Propane - C3H8,
Propylene (propene) - C3H8, Isobutane - C4H10, N-butane -
C4H10 and Butylene (butene) - C4H8. Liquefied Petroleum gas
is gaseous under normal atmospheric conditions, but liquefied
by cooling and/or compression. LPG is commonly used as an
industrial fuel for domestic and commercial purposes like town
gas and auto gas. LPG is also used as feedstock in chemicals
plant processes [5]
The main equation of this paper was used to find the
heating on oil burning. The parcels of heating supplied by oil’s
combustion, in kW [6]
IV. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this paper is to make an evaluation on
application of dehumidifiers on spray drying process. Because
according the weather’s conditions, season and climates
changes, the air humidity really changes and it influences on
drying performance and its productivity.
Analyzing the psychrometric conceptions and thinking in
making process improvements, it can be noted that there is
something incoherent. The spray dryer is equipment to dryer
4
the product but it uses atmospheric air with humidity. The
atmospheric air may carry a big amount of water into the
equipment. Thus, this paper would check what would happen
if it uses an air as dried as possible.
This study will analyze the following conditions: capacity of
moisture removing of each removing device and the influence
of moisture variation of the inlet air in the process.
These goals will show each study and its analysis. The most
important is to keep the focus on Process optimization.
This paper also intend to be used as tool of new spray
drying installing projects, showing a good opportunity to save
energy on the project.
V. METHODOLOGY
This paper’s methodology aims in determine the LPG
consumption and compare between the current process and
processes with dehumidification (Cooling and adsorption).
It uses the following equations to determine the figures.
Consumed LPG mass is found by Eq. (1):
Q = MLPG x PCLPG (1)
Consumed air heater energy is found by Eq. (2):
Q = Mar x (hfinal – hinicial) (2)
Water mass is found by Eq. (3): it is calculated only on current
process in order to determine the water removes capability.
After it, the found value will be used to simulate the processes
with dehumidification (cooling and adsorption)
MH2O = Mar x (Wfinal - Winicial) (3)
The air flow for a Spray dryer with and without
dehumidification is showed on Fig 2 and 3 respectively.
Mar – Air Mass (kg): it’s determined using compressor
capacity (27000m3) divided by specific volume (v=
0.91kg/m3), which can be found by psychrometric analysis by
a popular free calculator, mainly on atmospheric conditions
[16].
Fig. 2. The current Spray drying Process has the following Air flow: Point 1
– Atmospheric Air, Point 2 – After the Fan and before the Air Heater, Point 3
– After the air heater and Point 4 – Exit of air with high moisture, saturation
point.
THE 8th LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION - CLAGTEE 2009 5

dehumidifiers according the current process. Besides it was

made an energy balance in order certify all calculus before.

∑ e he = ∑ s hs (4)

Splinting the parts in air, product and water

eair heair + ( p hep + ew hew) = sair hsair + ( p hsp+ sw hsw)

(5)

Rationalization of some equivalent parcels

Fig. 3. The Proposed Air flow for spray drying process with the
dehumidifiers situated according the current process: Point 1 – Atmospheric eair heair + p (hep - hsp) = sair hsair + sw hsw - ew hew
Air, Point 2 – After the Fan and before the Air Heater, Point 3 – After the air (6)
heater and Point 4 – Exit of air with high moisture, saturation point

The enthalpy difference can be represented by

In the current process the psychrometric characteristics are
the same for the points 1 and 2. However in the proposed Air
(hep - hsp)=Cp(Tep-Tsp) (7)
flow, the point 2 has psychrometric characteristics with lower
moisture due to the dehumidifiers’ action.
Using Eq. (7), on Eq 6:
Equations (1); (2) and (3) require absolute humidity and
Enthalpy in some points of the analysis. It was determined by
eair heair+ p Cp (Tep-Tsp) = sair hsair + sw hsw - ew hew
the software Computer-Aided thermodynamic tables 2. This
(8)
program makes all Psychrometric analysis for this paper. All
parameters are in figure 4.
VI. RESULTS AND QUARREL
The beginning of this study was an analysis about air
psychrometric characteristics during one year. According the Table I follows the atmospheric air’s parameters which
found values, it calculates averages as well as it uses these were found in several days.
figures in order to make this paper. The atmospheric air Using the average values of Table I, follow the
parameters were obtained by Davis Vantage Pro 2 weather psychrometrics analysis on point 1:
station. And Spray drying inlet and outlet temperatures were DBT = 21.31ºC and RU = 75.09%, on catt2 it means that:
measure by PT100 from Contec. The dry bulb temperature is W1 = 0.01189kg water/kg dry air
the inlet temperature of Spray drying or Drying Temperature
of the Process. The air flow from the fan is 27000m3/h,
On point 4 were used the outlet air temperature and water The specific volume of the Air is v = 0.91kg/m3, so:
amount, which was found by the mass balance, on figure 4. So Air mass = 29670 kg/h
it was used to determine the absolute moisture (w).

Table I
Atmospheric air’s Parameters
Day DBTºC) RH (%)

01/12/07 21.6 83

01/01/08 27.9 66

01/02/08 23.5 79

01/03/08 22.3 88

01/04/08 23.8 60

01/05/08 18.9 80

01/06/08 13.7 94

01/07/08 15.7 97

01/08/08 22.2 56

01/09/08 19.6 61

Fig. 4. Mass balance of Spray drying process 01/10/08 25.2 62

AVERAGE 21.31 75.09

The relative humidity was found on current process
on point 3, it was kept the same on analysis with the A. Current Process Analysis
dehumidifiers, because it will a target to design the Table II shows the current process’ results.
THE 8th LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION - CLAGTEE 2009 6

Table II
Current Process’ Results.
D. Energy Balance
POINT 1 POINT 2 POINT 3 POINT 4 In Eq (8) using the values on mass balance (Fig 4) in order
DBT (ºC) 21.31 21.31 180 85 to calculate the outlet air enthalpy, hsair. Considering
RH % 75.09 75.09 0.19 9.46 Cp=1.6kJ/kg.ºC, hsw = 2652 kJ/kg (saturated steam at 85ºC)
DP (ºC) 16.72 16.72 16.72 34.5 and hew= 251.2kJ/kg (saturated liquid at 60ºC) so,
w (kg/kg) 0.01191 0.01191 0.01191 0.0355
hsair=200.78kJ/kg. This value is approximated of the value
which was found by Catt2, hsair= 199.7kJ/kg
H (kJ/kg) 71.71 71.71 235 199.7

Using Eq. (3): MH2O = 700 kg/h, that is real evaporation E. Economic Analysis on LPG consumption
capacity for this Spray drying. This Mass flow will be used on According Brazilian governmental department ANP –
models with dehumidifiers. Agência Nacional do Petroleo (Petroleum National Agency),
Using Eq. (2): Q = 4,844,868.13 kJ/h the LPG price is R$2.67/kg. Based on this value it can
Using Eq. (1): MLPG = 100.62kg/h calculate how much each process expense with LPG
This is LPG mass necessary to heat the air until reach consumption. The Current Process: MLPG = 100.62kg/h, thus it
maxima dryer’s efficiency using the atmospheric air without spends R$ 268.67/h, the Dehumidifiers by cooling system:
dehumidifiers. MLPG = 67.36kg/h, thus it spends R$ 179.84/h and the
Dehumidifiers by Adsorption system: MLPG = 32.29kg/h, thus
B. Dehumidifier by cooling system it spends R$ 86.20/h
Table III shows the Cooling system’s results.
VII. CONCLUSIONS
Table III This paper gave some important information about the
Cooling system’s Results. application of dehumidifiers on Spray drying Process. Based
POINT 1 POINT 2 POINT 3 POINT 4 on results calculated for current process, the dehumidifiers can
DBT (ºC) 21.31 3 143.5 85 reduce LPG consumption, the temperature of drying or dry
RH % 75.09 100 0.19 9.46 bulb temperature on Point 3 can be reduced in all kinds of
DP (ºC) 16.72 3 3 34.5 dehumidifiers, and the efficiency of Global Energy can be
w (kg/kg) 0.01191 0.004685 0.004685 0.0355
optimized using dehumidifiers, mainly if the Engineers and
Managers use these conceptions in the beginning of the
H (kJ/kg) 71.71 34.82 177.6 199.7
projects.
MH2O = 700 kg/h. It’s the maxima dryer’s efficiency Besides it can conclude about each dehumidification
Using Eq. (3): Mar = 22713.71kg/h system: The cooling system had saving on LPG Mass
Using Eq. (2): Q = 3243064 kJ/h consumption of 33.06% or R$ 88.83/h as well as the drying
Using Eq. (1): MLPG = 67.36kg/h temperatures was reduced at 143.5ºC; the Adsorption system
This is LPG Mass necessary to heat the air until reach had a saving on LPG Mass consumption of 67.91% or R$
maxima dryer’s efficiency using the atmospheric air with 182.47/h as well as the drying temperatures was reduced at
dehumidifiers by cooling system. 38.38ºC.
The energy balance proved that calculus used in this paper
C. Dehumidifier by Adsorption system has consistency and found approximated outlet air enthalpy,
Table IV shows the Adsorption system’s results. 200.78kJ/kg, as it was found by Catt2, 199.7kJ/kg.
These figures can show that the adsorption system is the
Table IV most appropriated dehumidifiers for a Spray drying process
Adsorption system’s Results. because it’s the more efficient in water removing from the air,
POINT
POINT 1 POINT 2 POINT 3 4 it has the lower consumption of energy in LPG as well as it has
DBT (ºC) 21.31 -40 38,38 85
less impact on global system. Besides certainly it will give the
shorter return of investment
RH % 75.09 100 0,19 9.46
This Paper also show the opportunity to investigate about
DP (ºC) 16.72 -40 -40 34.5
the economic analysis of install these kinds of dehumidifiers in
w (kg/kg) 0.01191 0,00007894 0,00007894 0.0355
order to have the best option and focused to compare with the
H (kJ/kg) 71.71 -19,86 58,81 199.7 Energy consumption and so that identify the more
appropriated system for Spray drying process.
MH2O = 700 kg/h. It’s the maximum dryer’s efficiency
Using Eq (3): Mar = 19760 kg/h VIII. REFERENCES
Using Eq (2): Q = 1554525.71kJ/h [1] G. C. S. Anselmo, “Determinação da Higroscopicidade do cajá em pó
por meio da secagem por atomização” Revista de Biologia de ciências
Using Eq (1): MLPG = 32.29 kg/h
da terra, Vol 6, nº2, pages 58-65, 2006
This is LPG Mass necessary to heat the air until reach maxima [2] V. S. Birchal, M. L Passos, “Modeling and Simulation of Milk
dryer’s efficiency using the atmospheric air with dehumidifiers emulsion drying in Spray Dryers”, Brazilian Journal of Chemical
by Adsorption system. engineering, Vol. 22, Nº02, pp.293-302, April-June, 2005.
THE 8th LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION - CLAGTEE 2009 7

[3] J. R. Camargo, Sistema de resfriamento evaporativo e evaporativo

adsortivo aplicados ao condicionamento de ar”, Doctorate Thesis at
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IX. BIOGRAPHIES
José Rui Camargo was born in São Bento do
Sapucaí, SP, Brazil, on March 7, 1955. He
graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the
Universidade Federal de Itajubá (1977), Master in
Mechanical Engineering from the Universidade de
Taubaté (2000) and doctorate in Energy
Transmission and Conversion from the
Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita
Filho (2003). He was Head of Mechanical
Engineering Department of the Universidade de
Taubaté from 1992 to 1995 and from 2002 to 2006. Actually he is Vice-rector
of the University of Taubaté and research and teaching in the graduate and
post-graduate courses. His experience included evaporative cooling,
thermoelectric and photovoltaic systems, thermal comfort, air conditioning
and optimization of industrial thermal systems.

Alex Notaroberto Madeira was born in Resende, RJ,

Brazil, He graduated in Chemical Engineering from
Faculdade de Engenharia Química de Lorena (2001),
Specialist in Process Management from at University
of Taubaté (2005). He has experience on industrial
process about Spray drying, Distillation, Reactions and
Food technologies.