Modular system said to dry PET and other hydrophilic materials for less

Less energy use, less time, and less trouble are being promised by Italian machinery manufacturer Moretto with its new Flowmax drying system. The automatic modular systems offer up to 10,000-12,000 kg/hr capacity without requiring either compressed air or cooling water. The manufacturer argues that a modular system composed of multiple dryers is the safer bet for an injection molder than a single large dryer which, if it fails, could then put a halt to a processor's entire operation. 

The system can include from three up to 10 dryers, with a maximum number of 32 connected hoppers. By combining multiple X Max dryers, a processor can build his system to meet his drying requirements. Large drying volumes, up to 5000 kg/hr, can be handled by combining between three and 10 X MAX dryers. During the time that one of these is being regenerated, the other units continue in operation until they too are submitted one after the other to regeneration. This helps ensure a steady process and ensures the rotation of the X MAX units for regeneration of the desiccant. The company's Flowmatik system allows a user to configure the Flowmax system.

The control unit can be used to reduce the airflow of all the machines in parallel, or to switch off a unit that is not in use. Not only can this help a processor to lower his energy consumptions, but it also helps him to limit the thermal stress on the material being dried and the fluctuation in its viscosity. According to Moretto, the use of multiple dryers, with desiccant regeneration alternated between the units, results in a constant average drying value with a dew point of about -65°C. The Flowmatik device calculates the airflow needed for each hopper, with the Flomax's control switching the units not required to stand-by mode.

Slaving multiple dryers together works well for a processor with the necessary space to accommodate such a setup. For those who lack it, the manufacturer supplies systems for drying hydrophilic materials in which a dryer is installed on the hopper of each injection molding machine.

Moretto claims energy savings that the Flowmax system, with its ability to recover and re-use energy, guarantees users an investment return of two years or less, considering only the reduction of the energy cost.

MPW visited Moretto and spoke with its founder and owner; find that article in our archive here.