About Total Drying
Industrial drying technology is an area which demands an innovative approach to produce solutions which satisfy customers demands.
The problems will not be solved by anything less than a dynamic partnership betweenscientists, technologists and manufacturers.
How can low energy methods be incorporated into the drying process?
How can low noise techniques be applied to high speed flow impact?
How can total moisture removal be achieved on fast moving containers?
How can condensation on cold surfaces be stopped?
How can bacteria spread by air-born moisture droplets be removed?
The project that is currently in place as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Secomak Ltd and the University of Hertfordshire addresses these problems.
If you would like to be involved in any aspect of this work or would like to contribute your views on drying processes and problems please contact us via this blog.
This Partnership received financial support from the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme (KTP). KTP aims to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base. KTP is funded by the Technology Strategy Board along with the other government funding organisations.
David Palmer (KTP Associate) is playing a key role on the Secomak stand at Drinktec Munich. Drinktec is the largest International Food and Drink Exhibition which is held every four years at the prestigious Trade Fair Centre complex just outside Munich.
The KTP in ‘Total Drying’ incorporates innovative scientific approaches to the drying process. Two key elements of this work are to be exhibited at Munich – energy saving and conditioned air to exclude condensation.
David has been involved in electronic control and under the supervision of his Company Supervisor has completed a demonstration rig to explain to visitors how the Secomak ECO systems can provide 30-60% savings in energy. This rig has provided valuable practical experience in electronics. The new Secomak ‘PowerCAT’ Conditioned Atmosphere Tunnel will be shown which provides a solution to condensation reformation, particularly on chilled drink containers. Development work on this equipment has been part of the KTP project activity.
Three MSc students from the Czech Republic are working at the University of Hertfordshire Drying Centre on Total Drying projects.
They are Hana Gusnarova, Pavlina Svecova and David Krpalek who are all funded by the Erasmus student exchange scheme operating from Brno College of Technology.
They arrived at Hatfield on 1st February 2009 and will be working on their MSc projects until 1st June 2009.
Hana, Pavlina and David have helped with the establishment of the Drying Centre which forms part of the Sustainable Energy facility on the Hatfield Campus. The project has provided them with an opportunity to learn practical engineering skills as well as a theoretical application of their background studies in Mechanical Engineering and Air Conditioning.
Secomak equipment forms the basis of all their testing and the work is focussed on the part played by conditioned air in the drying process. This work is supervised by David Dell. David Palmer, KTP Associate, is working closely with the trio with knowledge transfer being the key aim of the exchange visit.
UK's most energy efficient dryer developed
29.10.2008
A total drying solution for the manufacturing industry which is more energy efficient than any other on the market is being developed by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the University of Hertfordshire and Secomak.
The University, which is the UK's leading business facing university, has built strong links with Secomak, the industry leader in air movement technologies and one of the outcomes of this collaboration is a total drying solution. (See KTP Blog
http://www.totaldrying.com/).
The solution is the result of a government funded KTP to which University of Hertfordshire graduate in Aerospace Systems, David Palmer has brought his skills in Computational Fluid Dynamics, project management and project planning to deliver a drying process which is modelled on the energy expenditure of a hybrid car and can realise up to fifty percent energy savings.
At the moment, the total drying solution is used primarily to dry bottles or cans, and the system can be customised to dry any container and also has potential to dry sheet metal or plastic extrusions.
“The big advantage of this system is that the machine is equipped with sensors which sense when products need to be dried, rather than the dryer working all the time,” said David. “This works in a similar way to energy saving systems in hybrid vehicles and means that the energy consumption of our machine is directly proportional to the throughput of the product.”
Secomak currently has three other University connected staff. David Dell, who works part-time as a Senior Lecturer at the University's School of Aerospace, Automotive and Design Engineering and the rest of the time at Secomak as a Product Development Manager; Kim Whiteford, a third year University student in Human Resources who is on a twelve month placement in Human Resources at Secomak and James Reed, a third year University student in Marketing who is on a twelve month placement in Marketing with the company.
From left to right: David Palmer, David Dell, Kim Whiteford and James Reed. They are looking at a Powerstrip Dryer as produced by Secomak Ltd.
To see the original article please follow link:
http://www.herts.ac.uk/fms/documents/about-uh/Horizon/Horizon_83_October_08.pdf
UK's Most Energy Efficient Dryer29.08.2008A total drying solution for the manufacturing industry which will make significant energy savings is being developed by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the University of Hertfordshire and Secomak.
The University, which is the UK's leading business facing university, has built strong links with Secomak, the industry leader in air movement technologies and one of the outcomes of this collaboration is a total drying solution. (See KTP Blog www.totaldrying.com).
The solution is the result of a government funded KTP to which University of Hertfordshire graduate in Aerospace Systems, David Palmer has brought his skills in Computational Fluid Dynamics, project management and project planning to deliver a drying process which is modelled on the energy expenditure of a hybrid car and can realise up to 50 percent energy savings.
At the moment, the total drying solution is used primarily to dry bottles or cans, and the system can be customised to dry any container and also has potential to dry sheet metal or plastic extrusions.
'The big advantage of this system is that the machine is equipped with sensors which sense when product needs to be dried, rather than the dryer working all the time,' said David. 'This works in a similar way to energy saving systems in hybrid vehicles and means that the energy consumption of our machine is directly proportional to the throughput of the product.'
Secomak currently has three other University connected staff. David Dell, who works part-time as a Senior Lecturer at the University's School of AADE and the rest of the time at Secomak as a Product Development Manager; Kim Whiteford, a third year University student in Human Resources who is on a twelve month placement in Human Resources at Secomak and James Reed, a third year University student in Marketing who is on a twelve month placement in Marketing with the company.
Ultra-energy Efficient Dryer Under Development
ScienceDaily (Aug. 29, 2008) — A total drying solution for the manufacturing industry which will make significant energy savings is being developed by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the University of Hertfordshire and Secomak.
The University, which is the UK's leading business facing university, has built strong links with Secomak, the industry leader in air movement technologies and one of the outcomes of this collaboration is a total drying solution.
The solution is the result of a government funded KTP to which University of Hertfordshire graduate in Aerospace Systems, David Palmer has brought his skills in Computational Fluid Dynamics, project management and project planning to deliver a drying process which is modelled on the energy expenditure of a hybrid car and can realise up to 50 percent energy savings.
At the moment, the total drying solution is used primarily to dry bottles or cans, and the system can be customised to dry any container and also has potential to dry sheet metal or plastic extrusions.
'The big advantage of this system is that the machine is equipped with sensors which sense when product needs to be dried, rather than the dryer working all the time,' said David. 'This works in a similar way to energy saving systems in hybrid vehicles and means that the energy consumption of our machine is directly proportional to the throughput of the product.'
Adapted from materials provided by
University of Hertfordshire, via
AlphaGalileo.
To see the original article please follow link:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080828172831.htm
David Palmer (KTP Associate) recently took part in the KTP Module 2 Residential Course at Lympley near Bath. He is seen in the photograph in his role as Team Leader for the 'French Hacker' team photographed at Hungerford Castle.
The team were given a £15 budget to spend on a trip to a local landmark. They were tasked with obtaining entry to the Castle and taking a photograph, purchasing memorabilia and learning the history of the site to be given at a presentation.
David and his team excelled by covering all aspects of the task with a total expenditure of only £5.94!
Pictured with David in his international team are from left to right: Matthew (from Blackburn), Heidi (Finland), Christophe (France), David (Hertfordshire), Shammo ( Scotland).
