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PATTERSON ConaformŽ Vacuum Dryers can be built in sizes from 1 cubic foot (0.03 cu. m)
to 371 cubic feet (10.51 cu. m) capacity with body diameters from 1' 6" (.46 m) to
10' 6" (3.2 m).
PATTERSON ConaformŽ Dryers are completely jacketed and designed for circulating hot
water, oil, steam or vapors through the jacket. As the ConaformŽ Unit rotates, the rapid
and continuous inter-mixing of the batch brings every particle in contact with the heated
surface. The combination of blending and interfolding helps achieve uniform temperature
throughout the batch, prevents re-condensation since there are no cold spots, and
contributes to rapid drying speed and the elimination of caking. Maintaining a high vacuum
while the material is in motion permits the drawing off of moisture under ideal
conditions.
The PATTERSON ConaformŽ Vacuum Dryer is designed for fast, efficient drying of a wide
variety of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food products. Its unique double cone rotating
shape assures direct contact between the material and the heated surfaces. This results in
efficient and uniform heat transfer and permits high speed drying without raising the
drying temperature to the danger point of the material being processed.
The PATTERSON ConaformŽ is exceptionally gentle in action. The absence of moving parts
assures against disintegration of crystals or abrasion of sharp edges or corners. Since
the dryer is hermetically sealed, operations are dust -free. This means no material loss
and no contamination of the atmosphere.
The
PATTERSON ConaformŽ is
designed for use in the drying of many materials without condensers or other auxiliary
equipment. One ConaformŽ will usually replace an entire series of tray ovens. Where
condensers, decanters, etc., are required, they can be properly sized for every ConaformŽ
Dryer.
The PATTERSON ConaformŽ is available with a special dispersing mechanism known as the
Conagrator, for materials that tend to form lumps in the drying process. The use of a
Conagrator helps achieve high drying rates even when handling crystalline material.
The PATTERSON ConaformŽ Vacuum Dryer in addition to the drying feature can also be
used for such functions as blending, heating, cooling and for liquid or gaseous additives.
They are used for drying a wide range of food substances, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
The PATTERSON ConaformŽ Vacuum Dryer has uses in processes requiring pre-blending,
addition of liquid additives, heating the contents to bring out a reaction, removal of
excess moisture and finally cooling of the batch of product.
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A CLEAN INTERIOR - EASY TO KEEP CLEAN
The interior of the ConaformŽ Dryer consists only of the smooth sidewalls, through which
the heat is transferred to the product. The unique double-cone shape of the drying
compartment achieves the mixing and blending action. Intersections of cylinder and
truncated cones are obtuse angles, so no material is trapped. There are no internal
scrapers, plows, scoops or vanes to trap and hold material or prevent uniform drying.
The ConaformŽ can be easily cleaned for quick change of products or colors, with
minimum process hold-up. This feature enables one Dryer to be used for many different
reagent-grade chemicals of highest purity without cross contamination of products.
TIGHT VACUUM SEAL
The ConaformŽ has one stuffing box-at the entrance of the vapor pipe. A highly efficient
vacuum is easily maintained, as excess vacuum capacity is not required to provide for
leakage. Other dryers of the stationary cylinder type with horizontal shaft agitator
require two stuffing boxes, or a bearing inside of the batch.
BEARINGS OUT OF THE BATCH
All bearings of the ConaformŽ are installed outside of the drying compartment. There is
no possibility of product contamination from lubricants.
VACUUM-TIGHT DUSTLESS DISCHARGE VALVE
To maintain highest product purity and dust-free operation, the ConaformŽ Dryer is fitted
with a specially designed vacuum-tight discharge valve. The valve is a smooth plate seated
with a worm drive. There is little effort required to firmly seat the valve. It opens
fully, for unobstructed flow, similar to a gate valve, but has no grooves or channels to
trap material. The rim around the valve provides a seat for attaching a sleeve, so there
is no loss of product and no contamination during discharge.
NO BREAKAGE OR ABRASION OF CRYSTALS
The ConaformŽ Dryer is gentle in action. The entire absence of moving parts within the
ConaformŽ ensures against disintegration of crystals or abrasion of sharp edges or
corners. This is of special advantage where a dust-free final product is desired.
NO CAKING - NO CONTAMINATION
As the ConaformŽ rotates, and the vacuum draws off moisture, the particles constantly
change their position. There is no caking, or contamination in the ConaformŽ, as in
dryers of other types. Crystals of plate or elongated shape do not pack but take random
orientation, leaving open space for vapor to escape.
FOR SOLVENT RECOVERY
The PATTERSON ConaformŽ Dryer is particularly useful for drying materials of high value.
Solvents or liquids extracted from the materials being dried may be recovered by the use
of condensers. Auxiliary equipment, such as condensers, decanters, etc., can be supplied
with any size ConaformŽ Dryer.
MAY BE USED WITHOUT CONDENSER
The ConaformŽ can be used for drying many materials without condensers or other
equipment.
SUPERIOR TO TRAY DRYING
ConaformŽ vacuum drying is superior in many ways to tray drying. In tray drying, the
circulating air warms the material and removes moisture from the surface layer only. All
vapors do not rise to the surface but move to the place of lowest vapor pressure - often
the center of the batch, because of poor heat penetration. Here it is condensed or is
reabsorbed to cause caking. Heat conduction through a porous bed of material is always
slow, and transfer by radiation is notoriously inefficient at the low temperature
associated with vacuum drying. The ConaformŽ principle of simultaneous drying under a
vacuum eliminates these deficiencies and delivers a consistent product everytime.
Units can be individually designed to customer's material specifications and process
parameters. Complete the ConaformŽ Specification Sheet and submit by e-mail to
PATTERSON for quotation.