Characterization of a Spray Drying System for Soymilk

Soymilk slurries were spray dried at various combinations of inlet air temperature (1255. 265, and 275°C), feed rate (0.38 and 0.57 Lpm), and atomizer speed (119,300 and 26,800 rpm). Monitored dryer parameters included dry and wet bulb temperaturea of ambient and exhaust air, drying chamber's inlet and outlet air temperatures, product and feed temperatures, velocity pressure at exhaust pipe, atomizer speed, and feed rate. Weather data was included in the analysis. Collected data was used to estimate the state of the outlet air using psychrometrics and assuming adiabatic saturation. Equations to predict outlet and product temperatures were developed. Average thermal and eveporative efficiencies were 65.9 and 78.4%. respectively.