Enhancing a small sugar dryer's performance

The sugar dryer at Pleystowe Mill has proved a rate limiting station as sugar rates increased and sugar temperature standards decreased. Mill staff progressively enhanced the dryer performance as an alternative to capital expenditure on a new dryer. Changes included flight redesign, increasing the drum speed, increasing fan speed, installing a Coolgardie Cooler and a temporary rented air conditioner. All modifications incrementally increased dryer performance. It now operates at or just under its maximum performance of 75 to 80 tonnes per hour of sugar, and meets moisture and temperature specifications.