Modernization of Tunnel Dryers of ROSSTROMPROEKT Design. Innovative Solutions in the Technology of Drying Ceramic Products in Single-Track Dryer Units

Drying units of Rosstromproekt design, operated at many brick factories, are described. Their technical characteristics and disadvantages are given, the main of which are the stratification of the heat carrier along the height and length of the tunnel. Specialists of LLC “Hendle Ural” together with JSC “Engels brick factory” created a pilot plant of automatic forced circulation of heat carrier with variable direction of motion, with a more productive heat distribution and optimal controlled drying mode that meets the characteristics of a particular production. The scheme of the unit is given, its work is described. It is noted that after the reconstruction of four tunnels of the dryer unit and connection of the forced heat carrier circulation system, the drying time was reduced by 23% and amounted to 56 h (initially 72–80 h) with a maximum residual humidity of 3% (initially more than 7%), the coefficient of uneven drying was leveled. Connection of the forced circulation system of the heat carrier made it possible to improve the quality of the dried production at essential reduction of drying duration, to reduce the heat carrier consumption, especially when drying in different tunnels of the block of various types of ceramic products.

V.Yu. KUZMIN¹, Director
S.V. KANCHER², General Director
V.A. PEREVALOV¹, Projects Chief Engineer

¹ LLC “Hendle Ural” (141, 39b Komsomolsky Prospect, Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, 454138, Russian Federation)
² JSC “Engels Brick Factory” (47, 2nd Microdistrict, Engels, Saratov Oblast, 413105, Russian Federation)