Quick facts
Tetra Pak® Spray Dryer Prolac is used for producing permeate powder from various types of cheese whey. The system is also suitable for processing milk permeates.
Capacity
From 3 to 8 tonnes of powder output per hour depending on product range and available permeate flow.
Applications:
Produces permeate powder from various types of cheese whey and is also suitable for processing milk permeates. It is typically integrated in a full Tetra Pak line solution including evaporation, crystallisation and powder handling.
Tetra Pak® Spray Dryer Prolac
Continuous spray drying for food-grade permeate powder
- Produce best-in-class non-caking and non-hygroscopic powders of premium quality
- Be flexible in product range and powder functionalities and successfully manage hard-to-handle “sticky permeates”
- Benefit from integration in a full Tetra Pak line solution for optimal results
Features
Straight tube air distributor
Straight tube air distributor (STAD) with integrated high-pressure nozzle assembly
- Single or multi venturi air distributor evenly distributes drying air at relatively low pressure drop, minimising electricity consumption
- Modular design enables multiple venturi deployments as dryer capacity increases, ensuring standardised atomisation conditions
- Chamber roof cooling system minimises powder deposits (bearding) and prevents overheating of any deposits that do form
Swivel adjustable lances
Swivel adjustable lances for improved safety
- Easy and accurate process adjustments and enhanced operator safety through short lances and side-mounted placement
- Each air distributor has integrated high-pressure nozzle assembly and optional fines return capability
- Depending on required functional properties, fines separated from exhaust air can be reintroduced in the atomising zone
Crystallisation belt
Crystallisation belt for lactose processing
- Handles lactose crystallisation of humid powder from the drying chamber
- Well-defined residence times ensure exact results and support production of high-quality whey powder with minimal protein denaturation
Tetra Pak® Shaking Bed
Tetra Pak® Shaking Bed for single- and multi-stage drying
- Single- and multi-stage drying of agglomerated and non-agglomerated products
- Allows gentle after-drying and after-cooling of delicate products
- Shaking motion improves air/solids contact for superior mixing and higher thermal efficiency
- Depending on product type, the product passes through a static bed, a well mix shaking bed and plug-flow drying and/or cooling bed
Tetra Pak® Bag Filter
Optimal powder particle separation with Tetra Pak® Bag Filter
- Separates powder particles in exhaust air of spray drying installation
- Dislodges deposits with compressed air and pulses them into fluidising cone
- Filtered air leaves top of bag filter via clean air side and is discharged via exhaust fan
- Designed for maximum product yield, low emissions and competitive total cost of ownership
Open pressure transport
Open pressure transport system for fines separation
- Separates and collects fines present in exhaust air
- Uses conditioned air to convey and cool the fines before separation in system cyclone
- Reduces fines’ exposure to heat, minimising potential product damage
- MPT system conveys fines to atomising zone for agglomeration or fluid bed for production of non-agglomerated product
Options
Middle pressure fines transport system
Middle pressure fines transport system for recovered fine powder
- Conveys fine powder recovered from cyclone/s and/or baghouse to:
- Dryer for entry to the atomising zone for agglomerated/instant or dustless products; or
- Start of shaking or fluid bed for regular products and when no agglomeration is required; or
- Discharge end of shaking or fluid bed for emptying and shut down
- If required, the fines’ destination can be changed mid-run by valve adjustment
Multiple feed systems
24/7 production with multiple feed systems
- Multiple concentrate feed systems allow concentrate tanks, heaters and high-pressure pumps to be independently rotated and cleaned
- Supports round-the-clock production if desired
- Changeovers of lines feeding high-pressure pumps are by water flushing the feed system – a setup that eliminates product loss
- Post-production line immediately flushed and cleaned when product diverts to clean high-pressure concentrate line
Spray monitoring system
Spray monitoring system for full control
- Continuously monitors spray pattern of high-pressure nozzles to ensure safe spray drying and prevent nozzle leakage or product build-up on nozzle tips
- Consists of camera system connected by fibre optic cable to a PC monitor
- Supports maximum air inlet temperature of 280˚C
- Camera cooling system at top of drying chamber
Exhaust air heat recuperator
Exhaust air heat recuperator for energy optimisation
- Transfers energy from dryer exhaust air to dryer inlet
- Placed after bag filter and can be combined with exhaust noise attenuator
- Hygienic design for full cleanability and optimal heat transfer
- Design takes account of exhaust air condensation levels
