Fluid bed drying is an efficient technique for removing moisture or other volatile solvents from a wide variety of materials. Fluid bed granulating is a modification of the drying process in which a suitable granulating fluid is sprayed onto the top of the fluidized bed of powder to form granules or agglomerates. Fluid bed granulation is used to change product density, improve flow and increase dispensability. Granulation is also used to blend and join products of different sizes and densities.


Designed for Maximum Granulating Efficiency

Fluid Air fluid bed systems are designed to maximize the amount of product in the critical granulating zone by utilizing:

• A conical expansion chamber which reduces the velocity of air by 50% from the bottom of the chamber to the top. The reduction in velocity keeps the fine particles out of the upper filter region and below the spray nozzles when granulating.


• An agitator in the bowl to mechanically assist the bed movement, reducing the airflow and velocity required to fluidize a product.


• A heavy-duty Turboflo or Conidur plate that allows process air to be distributed evenly across the bottom of the bowl.

Multiple Filter Configuration Options for Process Flexibility

Fluid Air fluid bed systems can be equipped with three different filter configurations to meet the needs of your application:

• One-Piece Bag- A bag that extends from the bottom of the chamber to the top, preventing product from coming into contact with the chamber walls. If the material being dried or granulated has a propensity to stick, it will stick to the bag instead of the chamber wall. Product build-up is removed by periodic shaking of the bag, resulting in more uniform production, and higher batch yields. This also eliminates the need to remove product build-up from the chamber walls at the end of the batch and/or when changing from one product to the next.


• Cartridge Filters- Cartridge filters are installed in the upper portion of the expansion chamber. The cartridges are automatically pulsed clean, permitting continuous fluidization of the material.


• Bag/Cartridge Combination

Superior Granulation for Single and Multi-Nozzle Applications

Fluid Air granulators use air atomized spray nozzles in single or multi-nozzle configurations. In multi-nozzle setups, the nozzles are arranged in a high-efficiency “chandelier” assembly which spreads out the nozzles and angles them straight down at the bed, allowing for more uniform coverage of the product.

A higher percentage of granulating solution contacts the bed compared to cluster-mounted nozzle assemblies used in more traditional fluid beds. The end result is a more uniform product, reduced granulation time, and more efficient use of granulating solution.

To further optimize the granulating spray system, the nozzle height can be raised or lowered automatically during the process. This permits the distance between the nozzle tip and fluidized bed to be adjusted during the process to compensate for changes in the bed height.

Simplify Your Scale-Up

Fluid Air fluid bed systems maintain critical scale-up factors, such as average bowl geometry, operating bed depth, air velocity and air/product ratios (quantity of air/cubic foot of product) from one unit to the next. Product created in smaller, R&D or pilot size units can be easily scaled to production using proportionally the same air conditions. Further, operating bed depth, which affects the end density of the product when granulating, is also maintained from one unit to the next.