Littleford Day Provides State-Of-The-Art Controls

Monitoring and analyses of process data generated by the drying product enables precise control of the entire drying process. At the start of the drying cycle, the product temperature and vapor temperature both level out at a given temperature equilibrium. During the early cycle, the power (watts) required slowly increases as the batch thickens. At the onset of the Granule Stage, the power rises markedly on the viscous batch and does not start to drop until the batch breaks over in Granules. From this point in the cycle the power continues to drop while the batch temperature rises slowly. As the final few percent of volatiles are removed from the batch, the power drops slowly until it eventually becomes level. Finally, the vapor temperature in the vacuum lines decreases and without evaporative cooling, the batch begins to heat up very rapidly, indicating that drying is completed.

With the proper state-of-the-art instrumentation, it is not only feasible to insure that a processing cycle as involved as drying meets the established criteria for the process, but also to ensure that the same product quality is reproducible from run to run. This is utmost importance in meeting government standards on Process Validation in the pharmaceutical industry.

Total control of the entire drying process can be facilitated with a programmable controller (PLC). With the PLC the customer is able to regulate and control vacuum levels, jacket heating, chopper timing, and duration, plus control and documentation of any number of required process steps.

Partial instrumentation of the drying process can also be extremely valuable.

Recording Watt (power) meters can be used to accurately measure total energy (KWH) usage and to detect when the material passes through the various stages of drying; i.e., Paste, Granule, and Powder.

A Temperature Chart Recorder device can be added to record temperature profiles, thereby documenting completion of the drying process.

Littleford Ploughshare Dryers can also be entirely mounted on load cells to detect volatile loss by monitoring change in the mass weight of the unit and its contents.

Process Testing And Development Begin At Littleford Day

For many customers, a partnership with Littleford Day begins in our unique Process Testing and Development Center at our headquarters in Florence, Kentucky. Your company will quickly discover the advantages of the Littleford Day technologically-advanced dryers which will help you achieve superior results.

The technical center is staffed by Littleford Day engineers, chemists and technologists who understand your specific applications and can recommend the best drying equipment and solutions for your needs. Once you build a working relationship with us during your Process Testing and Development Program, we are confident Littleford Day will become your choice for the right technology.

FKM Series Atmospheric/Vacuum Dryers
Littleford FKM Series Ploughshare Atmospheric/Vacuum Dryers produce uniformly dried products in economical drying times. These vessels promote drying much more efficiently than conventional dryers. They designed to operate at levels down to 125mm of Hg absolute (25” Hg. Reference vacuum). For increased levels of vacuum, pressure, or temperature, Littleford Day offers the VT and DVT Series Ploughshare Vacuum Dryers described below.

VT Series Vacuum Dryers
Littleford VT Series Ploughshare Vacuum Dryers operate on the same principles as the FKM Series Dryers, but are designed to meet more rigorous requirements of increased vacuum and higher temperatures. They also provide efficient and thorough drying at lower temperatures. VT Series Dryers are designed to operate up to full vacuum and 50 p.s.i.g.

DVT Series Vacuum Dryers
For applications which require pressure ratings greater than 50 p.s.i.g., Littleford Day offers the DVT Series Ploughshare Vacuum Dryer. Like other Littleford Dryers, the DVT Series Dryer operates on the mechanically fluidized bed principle to yield an extremely high solid surface area per pound of dry solid.

STANDARD SIZES OF FKM PLOUGHSHARE DRYERS

STANDARD SIZES OF VT AND DVT PLOUGHSHARE DRYERS