SPRAY DRYING
Objective
Identify system and process parameters to maximize residence time of droplets/particles Predict temperatures and phase change of product to ensure product stability
Results
Temperatures, flow rates of air and product, and containment design to achieve stable product Predict particle distribution of dried product
Benefits
Minimize cost of testing to optimize design and process conditions Increase yield and minimize loss of product due to "glassing" "What if" scenarios can be tried for day-to-day operations, as well as design optimization
Process/Design Parameters
Atomization particle size distribution Flow rate Atomized product Heated air	Bustle design Chamber size Drying kinetics Humidity distribution
Performance Evaluations
Water content of product Temperature distribution in product (i.e., did product temperature go above glassing temperature) Product particle size distribution Residence time of suspended product versus dryness of product
Approach for Different Stages of Spray Drying Process
Atomization - Use particle size distribution obtained from testing Spray/Gaseous Medium Contact - Simulate spray/gas flows Evaporation - Spray/gas flow analysis will be coupled with heat transfer mass transfer, sublimation, and    particle tracking analyses - Iterative solution will be used to balance results Product Recovery - Interpretation of results to determine water content and temperature distribution in dried   product