Shanghai Pilotech Instrument & Equipment Co.,Ltd.

YC-310 mini spray granulator / Spray agglomeration in a fluidized bed is a method for shaping that enhances the properties of powders. By spraying in a fluidized bed system, we convert powdery, non-flowing and often poorly soluble particles into free-flowing agglomerate or granulate with outstanding solubility. The method is particularly suitable as a preliminary step for making tablets as well as for manufacturing cleaning agents, drinking powders and instant products.

Spray agglomeration moves very small, powder particles in the fluidized bed where they are sprayed with a binder solution or suspension. Liquid bridges are created that form agglomerates from the particles. Spraying continues until the desired size of the agglomerates is reached.

After the residual moisture in the capillaries and on the surface has evaporated, hollow spaces are created in the granulate while the new structure is solidified throughout by the hardened binder. The lack of kinetic energy in the fluidized bed results in very porous structures with plenty of internal capillaries. The usual size range of the agglomerate is from 100 micrometers to 3 millimeters, while the starting material can be micro-fine.

Because of its porous character and large surface structure, the agglomerate can be moistened significantly better, is very soluble and can be optimally pressed. The dust-free, free-flowing product is easily dosed and optimally further processed. The variable parameters in the process, such as particle size distribution, bulk density or porosity, make it possible to produce a large number of specific particle properties. Completely according to your specifications.

Principle of granulation: The top spray device consists of a conical material tank and an expansion chamber. The material rises and falls, forming a fluidized motion. In the conical tank the reciprocation of the material brings about a fluidized state like the shape of a fountain. The spray gun sprays liquid evenly onto the material, where liquid bridge is formed, followed by solid bridge, thus bigger granules are made.

Principle of coating: The bottom spray device, a significant breakthrough in coating technology, has made coating of small particle size possible. With the development of the technology, powder as small as 50 µm can be coated. The bottom spray device comprises a conical pot and a guide cylinder. The bottom of the pot has a dual-path air intake structure so as to control the air flow state both inside and outside the guide cylinder. The material in the guide cylinder ascends at a high speed, enters the expansion chamber and falls outside the guide cylinder, which is a cycle that goes repeatedly. The spray nozzle at the center of the guide cylinder atomizes the liquid drops upwardly from the bottom so the liquid drops spread evenly on particle surface and forms patches of coating film. In this process the coating film becomes thicker steadily and dries until the coating process is complete.

Advantage

1)Convenient operation: Automatic PLC control is adopted for the control system, featured by one button startup, color touch screen operation, and real time modification of the test parameters during testing, such as inlet air temperature, outlet air temperature, material temperature, blow speed, and spray pressure, which is convenient for the user. The touch screen has USB ports, and data can be exported to memories sticks or printed out online;

2) Stable operation: Core components of the equipment, including the touch screen, blower, heater, and control system, are imported, ensuring stable and reliable operation of the equipment;

3)The pot can be replaced with ones of different sizes, which meet the testing demand of various volumes materials;

4)Material temperature and inlet air temperature feedback function: With material temperature feedback, inlet air temperature and timing of liquid spray are automatically adjusted and controlled, which ensures stability of the testing process so as to meet the optimum process requirement.

5) New type of backflush system is adopted so as to effectively improve the yield of granulation and coating;

6) In order to meet users’ requirement of adjusting various parameters within the testing range, PID thermostat control technology with real time regulation is adopted for temperature control so that temperature is accurately controlled  when experimenting, ensuring stable temperature in the process of granulation and coating.

7) Unique dual control system for air flow inside and outside the guide cylinder: Stepless online adjustment can be performed of the guide cylinder internal and external air flow, as a result even if the pill diameter and/or specific gravity changes in the process of coating and granulation, the fluidization inside and drying outside the cylinder can still be adjusted online to optimum state.