Kreyenborg Plant Technology GmbH & Co. KG has shipped seven IR batch machines to two customers in North America and Asia. The systems use infrared radiation.
The customers, which were not identified, will use the IR systems for crystallization of relatively small amounts of amorphous PET granulate in PET fiber production. Kreyenborg said both customers have existing IRD systems in operation.
Fiber-grade PET granulate tends to clump during the crystallization phase, according to the company in Senden, Germany. That can lead to substantial problems in traditional mixing tanks, Kreyenborg said.
The IR Batch System solves that through the high turn speed of the drum, and flexible temperature control throughout the process, so even the most difficult-to-crystallize materials, like polyester, can be processed. The direct heat input from the infrared radiation reduces processing time to only 15-20 minutes, Kreyenborg said.
The flexibility of the system allows it to process very small batch sizes when necessary – at a minimum output of just 50 to 180 kilograms an hour (110 to 397 pounds).
Both customers have positioned the IR Batch System in front of a conventional dryer, which dries the residual moisture to a final moisture content of 50 parts per million. Drying times in the conventional dryer can be reduced because the IR Batch System delivers preheated, pre-dried material.
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