Dryers 401: Maintenance of Drying Systems  

Drying System maintenance is critical to safety, emissions, efficiency, reliability, and durability. 

Safety: The area around the Drying System needs to be cleaned regularly.  Dangerous areas need appropriate signs and guards; they should be roped off during normal operation.  Warning lights and horns need to be installed.  Worn seals and airlock blades need to be checked and replaced as they allow excess air into the Drying System which increases the risk of fires and explosions.  These items all need to be checked on a regular basis as routine maintenance to insure safety of plant personnel and site visitors.

Emissions:  Worn seals, airlock blades, and damaged ducting need to be repaired or replaced to ensure that the Drying System is operating within the emission limits that it was designed to maintain.

Efficiency:  Air leaks can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in most operations.  When seals and airlock blades are worn, or ducting is damaged, air leaks into the Drying System.  Increased air flow into the system will increase the energy used to evaporate a pound of water.  Regular maintenance of these components prevents costly air leaks.  

Reliability:  A reliable Drying System will operate 8,400 hours per year or more.  The only way to ensure this is to properly maintain all parts of your Drying System.  The Dryer Drum, Trunnion Wheels, conveyors, and motors need to be properly aligned.  Bearings and the Drum’s tracks need to be properly lubricated.  Worn parts need to be replaced.  The Drum tracks, trunnion wheels, and seal rings need to be resurfaced regularly to insure proper sealing and reduce stress loading and shock vibration.

Durability:  The key to long-term durability in a Drying System is proper maintenance.   Worn or damaged parts need to be replaced or repaired properly.  Rolling surfaces need to be resurfaced to reduce stress loading and shock vibration to your system