Selecting fans for sawdust dryers - a key element of effective drying

Efficient sawdust drying is the foundation for the production of pellets, briquettes and many other biomass products. Regardless of the type of drying technology used, the key link in any system is the fan - responsible for airflow, material transport, heat exchange and process stability.

In this article, we present how to select fans for different types of sawdust dryers - drum, belt, fluidized bed and aerodynamic - and which parameters to pay special attention to.

The role of the fan in the drying system

Fans in dryers typically perform three basic functions:

1. They supply hot air to the drying zone (supply),
2. They exhaustmoist air (exhaust),
3. Transport material in the air stream - especially in aerodynamic and air dryers.

Their selection must be in accordance with the requirements of the process - both in terms of flow capacity and resistance to temperature, dust and abrasion.

1. drum dryers - a high-performance solution

Drum dryers are the most common type of dryer used in large manufacturing plants. The material is moved through a rotating drum into which hot air is forced.

Selection of fans:

• Type: medium- or high-pressure radial fans with belt or clutch drive.
• Capacity: 15,000 to 35,000 m³/h.
• Compression: typically 1500-2500 Pa.
• Temperature resistance: up to 150°C.
• Dust resistance: self-cleaning blades required.

2. belt dryers - precise drying at low temperatures.

Belt dryers provide a gentle drying process that is important in the production of high-quality pellets.

Fan selection:

• Type: axial or radial low-pressure fans.
• Capacity: 2,000 - 10,000 m³/h.
• Compression: 700-2000 Pa.
• Features: quiet operation, energy efficiency.

3. fluidized bed dryers - fast air wave drying.

In fluidized bed dryers, sawdust is raised in a "cushion" of hot air, which allows very fast and even drying.

Selection of fans:

• Type: medium-pressure radial fans.
• Capacity: 10,000-30,000 m³/h.
• Compression: 1000-3000 Pa.
• Abrasion resistance: required.
• Control: inverters for flow control.

4. aerodynamic dryers - compact and mobile solutions.

In aerodynamic dryers, sawdust is dried in a stream of hot air in a transport tube.

Selection of fans:

• Type: medium- or high-pressure radial fans.
• Capacity: 5,000 - 20,000 m³/h.
• Pressure: 2,000 - 5,000 Pa.
• Temperature and abrasion resistance: very important.
• Control: inverter for flow control.

Summary

Proper selection of a sawdust dryer fan is a guarantee of stable, energy-efficient and effective drying. At MOVIMET, we help select fans based on:

• drying technology,
• material parameters,
• installation conditions and expected performance.