PNEUMATIC AND VORTEX DRYERS TO DEHYDRATE FINE-DISPERSED PLANT RAW MATERIALS

The aim of research is to summarize and analyze scientific information on the processes of pneumatic and vortex drying of finely dispersed plant materials. The paper presents an overview of modern technologies of pneumatic and vortex drying for dehydration of finely dispersed plant materials used in the food and feed industries. The relevance of developing energy-efficient drying methods that can preserve the nutritional properties of plant material components, such as proteins and vitamins, is substantiated. The research methodology includes a systematic analysis of the scientific literature for 2005–2025 found in bibliographic databases by keywords. The results of the analysis showed that pneumatic dryers, the operating principle of which is based on transporting material in a hot gas stream, are effective for dehydration of finely dispersed raw materials due to the high drying rate and simplicity of design. Experiments confirmed the effectiveness of pneumatic dryers for dehydration of plant materials, identifying key parameters for their optimization, such as pipe length, gas velocity and temperature. Vortex dryers, using a swirling gas flow and mechanical action of the rotor, are superior to pneumatic dryers in their ability to process viscous dispersed materials with high humidity, providing intensive heat exchange and removal of bound moisture. Their potential in feed production is due to the preservation of heat-sensitive components, although experimental data on drying plant materials in them are insufficient. Mathematical modeling of drying processes using two-fluid theory, Euler granular theory and the discrete element method allows optimizing the design of pneumatic and vortex dryers, but requires improving the methods of its implementation to take into account all parameters. The results of the review confirm that pneumatic and vortex dryers have significant potential for improving the dehydration technologies of finely dispersed plant materials, providing increased energy efficiency of drying, improved quality of the finished product and reduced production costs.