The Agitated Thin Film Dryers (ATFD) are a highly efficient and versatile solution for a wide range of thermal treatment and heat exchange processes, particularly when working with viscous and heat-sensitive products. This innovative technology is ideal for situations where reduced operating temperatures and vacuum operating pressures are desirable, making it an excellent choice for various industries.

The ATFD system consists of a tubular heat transfer area with an external heating jacket and a fast-revolving, inner rotor with flexible or rigid wiper elements. The driving speed is adjusted according to the specific product being handled, ensuring optimal performance and efficient results. The feed product is evenly distributed by the rotor and its wipers over the heating surface, forming a thin liquid film of uniform thickness. The high turbulence generated at the tip of the rotor blades and wipers ensures excellent heat transfer, while also promoting constant renewal of the product film, providing an even heating and short residence time for the product in the heated zone.

One of the key advantages of the ATFD is its ability to conduct heat efficiently, even when working with highly viscous and contaminated products. The low operating capacity and short dwell time (typically 10-20 seconds of mean dwell time) also help to minimize thermal stress, which can be detrimental to sensitive materials. Furthermore, the absence of a “dead zone” in the system prevents overheating and ensures perpetual high product quality. The continuous mechanical cleaning of the heating surface also helps to prevent incrustations and maintain optimum performance over time.

The high evaporation rates and gentle evaporation achieved by the ATFD make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications. The reduced need for maintenance, due to sophisticated bearings and shaft sealing parts, further enhances the system’s reliability and cost-effectiveness. The small film thickness and high turbulent flow also contribute to the efficient use of space and energy.

The ATFD is particularly well-suited for difficult vaporization and heat exchange processes, especially where products are highly viscous and conventional plants are no longer meeting user demands. It excels in applications such as concentrating highly viscous products, polluted liquids, salt solutions, oils, resins, and more. It can also be used as a sump evaporator for vacuum rectification columns, for sludge drainage, for continuously drying powdery residues, for distillation of high-boiling substances under high vacuum, for degassing and removal of volatile components from highly viscous products, for heating or cooling of viscous solutions, for improving product quality by removing color bodies and minimizing impurities, for eliminating thermal degradation, and for increasing product recovery by reclaiming additional bottoms product from overhead and distillate products from bottoms.

In summary, the Agitated Thin Film Dryers (ATFD) are an advanced and reliable solution for a variety of thermal treatment and heat exchange processes, particularly when working with viscous and heat-sensitive products. Their ability to efficiently conduct heat, maintain high evaporation rates, and gently evaporate products make them an ideal choice for a wide range of industries and applications.