The Tri-Phase Difference

While the Tri-Phase process is revolutionary, it does not defy the laws of physical science, rather, it applies them in a different way. The patented three-phase process separates the heating from the drying phases and by doing so, it achieves the goal of drying with the benefit of conserving energy through recycling. The equipment owner benefits from a significant energy savings of 60% - 75% when compared to traditional forms of drying, as well as reduced heat damage to the products being dried.

jTabber Example

Move your mouse cursor over the image above to get details about each one of the three phases.

Hot liquid is circulated through a sealed container of wet material. The hot liquid cools as it transfers its heat into the wet material. The material to be dried is now hot and still wet. The heating liquid is cooled. No drying has occurred. Air passes through the heated wet material. As it dries the material, the air absorbs water and gets very hot and moist. As the water evaporates, the hot wet material gives off its heat and is discharged cool and dry. The input heat energy has become highly concentrated in the hot, moist exhaust air. The heat exchanger transfers the heat energy in the exhaust air back into the cooled circulating liquid coming from the initial heating phase of the system. It also condenses out water vapor as distilled water, a useful by product.

Drying is normally a combination process. As heated air is applied to the wet material, water is simultaneously evaporated into the air and drying takes place. Most of the heat energy escapes into the air and into the warmed, dry material (and therefore, the heat energy is wasted).

The Tri-Phase drying process separates the two phases and adds a third. In the first phase, the wet material is heated in a sealed container where water is not allowed to evaporate into the limited air (no drying). In the second phase, a small amount of air is used to “pick up” and evaporate the moisture from the hot wet material, and drying takes place. In the third phase, the energy is recovered (and can be re-used) from the hot, moist exhaust air.

The Tri-Phase technology has been reviewed by three experts in drying equipment process engineering:

7 Patents Pending With the U.S. Patent Office (including international protection)

Material Characteristics

Granular Solids larger than 500 microns
Materials that require product temperatures less than 210F to maintain quality

Highest Priority End Use Applications

Foods and Feeds (Human and Pets)
Industrial Grain Drying
Chemicals
Polymers

The Tri-Phase process also technically works well for applications where the product temperature is commonly allowed to exceed 210 degree F (100 degree C); however, the economic advantage will be less, though still real and significant, than for applications where product temperatures must be held low to maintain product quality.

The Tri-Phase process may be adapted to fit a wide variety of drying configurations such as rotary drum dryers, fluidized bed dryers, disc, screw, plough dryers, paddle dryers, column dryers, tray dryers and conveyor, belt, and tunnel dryers. The process can dry a wide variety of granular materials, particulates, powders, flakes, pastes, mixes, slurries, and solids. Download the pdf to see a more complete chart of how Tri-Phase fits with various dryer types and materials.

Download "Industrial Dryers & The Tri-Phase Drying Process" PDF file