Infrared drying

Infrared drying – Kreyenborg IRD

The infrared dryer (IRD) from Kreyenborg is an innovative technology that heats, crystallises and dries plastics such as PET, PET with PE, PLA, ABS and more in a single step. The IRD is widely used inline in production and processes flakes, granulate and pellets. The efficient infrared technology delivers the energy directly into the material, which speeds up the process and saves energy. Especially at high incoming moisture levels (above 1%), the IRD is highly effective.

Heating, crystallising and drying in one step:

• PET-Booster®: crystallising + drying to < 500 ppm
• IRD + insulated buffer hopper: crystallising + drying to < 200 ppm
• IRD + adsorption dryer: crystallising + drying to < 50 ppm

Advantages:

• Processing in minutes instead of hours
• Immediate production start – no preheating required
• Continuous process
• Throughput from 20 to 5,000 kg/h
• Excellent mixing behaviour
• Constant output moisture
• Suitable for high and fluctuating incoming moisture
• Recipes can be stored in the controls
• Various drum versions available
• Efficient energy balance
• Material does not stick
• Easy to clean
• High flexibility
• Low spare parts costs

The IRD delivers heat with short-wave infrared light directly into the core of the material. The energy heats the material from the inside, driving the moisture from the inside out, after which it is removed via air circulation. The rotation of the drum keeps the material in constant motion for optimal mixing and uniform heating. The low rotation speed ensures gentle, damage-free treatment of the material.

The IRD uses an integrated PLC control with touchscreen for precise process control. Sensors and pyrometers monitor the material and exhaust air temperatures and automatically correct deviations. Recipes can be stored and remote maintenance is available as an option. Recycled material typically has strongly fluctuating incoming moisture; directly after the IRD the residual moisture is homogeneous and reproducible at < 300 ppm.