Larry Rudolph Genskow

DRYER SCALE-UP METHODOLOGY FOR THE PROCESS INDUSTRIES

Abstract Scale-up is an important task of the practicing process engineer. The challenge is to produce product in the commercial manufacturing system which is identical to product produced during small scale development. This task is particularly challenging with respect to dryer scale-up because drying process variables have a very strong influence on dried product characteristics such as density, flowability, shrinkage, flavor and the like. This strong process/product characteristics interaction frequently requires both a micoscale and macroscale understanding of drying phenomena and secondary transformations. A general approach to process scale-up is discussed followed by a discussion of generic issues specific to the unit operation of drying.

Challenges and Opportunities in process innovation

Abstract This addresses key challenges and opportunities in process innovation. Important capability trends are identified and discussed. Key challenges and opportunities to be addressed include: o 1) The challenge of learning at the smallest scale to increase innovation speed and decrease cost — and lessons from biotech. 2) The importance of identifying emerging technologies and disruptive innovations — innovations that can ultimately obsolete incumbent businesses with new to the world technologies. 3) The need for diversity to fuel diresity of thought — to nourish and enable creativity and invention. 4) The challenge and the promise of micro-technologies. 5) The role of modeling and simulation in process innovation.

Guest Editorial: Drying Technology—The Next 25 Years

Congratulations to the many contributors to Drying Technology for 25 years of publication resulting in a much improved understanding of drying science and technology. And congratulations to Arun Mujumdar for his vision and leadership for Drying Technology and the International Drying Symposium (IDS). Sometimes we fail to observe growth in the short term and only in reflecting over a longer period do we observe the extent of the growth. Having just completed editing a section of the eighth edition of Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, the progress in drying technology has been quite remarkable. Both the Journal and IDS have created connections and a community of drying enthusiasts that have made a major impact on our understanding of the drying process. Now is a good time to reflect on the major challenges to address in the next 25 years. We need to enable greater drying innovation. I see the challenges falling into four major areas:

Drying of Solids

Often only small amounts of product are available for process development in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In such cases, a small apparatus to test the behavior of the product during drying is of great value. The Siemens drying laboratory has developed a unique agitated vacuum contact dryer that is especially suited to the online monitoring and recording of the entire drying process. This proprietary instrument offers the following key advantages: