Principle

The mesh belt dryer, also known as a multi-layer belt dryer, operates on the principle of continuous convective drying. In this process, hot air is passed through a moving bed of material that is spread uniformly on a perforated or mesh conveyor belt. The hot air transfers heat to the wet material, causing the moisture to evaporate from its surface and diffuse outward from within the particles. The moisture-laden air is then exhausted or recirculated, and fresh hot air is continuously supplied to maintain the desired drying conditions. The drying process relies primarily on forced convection, where heated air flows through the material layers either from top to bottom or bottom to top, depending on the design.

In a multi-layer belt dryer, several mesh belts are arranged one above the other within a closed, thermally insulated drying chamber. The material moves progressively from the top layer to the bottom layer, passing through zones of controlled temperature and airflow. As the material travels along each belt, it gradually loses moisture, ensuring uniform drying by the time it exits from the bottom discharge conveyor. The multi-layer configuration allows for a large drying area in a compact footprint, making the design energy-efficient and suitable for continuous production of bulk materials such as food products, chemicals, biomass, and sludge.

Principle of Operation

The fundamental principle of a mesh belt dryer is the transfer of heat and mass between hot air and moist material. Moisture removal occurs in two steps:

• Surface evaporation, where the heat from the drying air vaporizes the free water on the surface of the product.
• Internal diffusion, where moisture from the inner part of the material migrates to the surface and subsequently evaporates.

The rate of drying depends on factors such as air temperature, humidity, velocity, air flow direction, bed depth, residence time, and product characteristics. Typically, the drying process is divided into multiple temperature zones, allowing the product to experience high temperature initially for rapid surface drying, followed by moderate temperatures in subsequent zones to avoid overheating or case hardening.

Construction Details

A multi-layer mesh belt dryer is a modular, continuous-type drying system, generally constructed in stainless steel or carbon steel depending on the application (food-grade or industrial). It consists of the following main components:

• Drying Chamber / Enclosure:
  The main body is a rectangular, thermally insulated chamber designed to contain multiple layers of conveyor belts. It is constructed from stainless steel (SS304/SS316) for food and chemical applications or carbon steel with anti-corrosion coating for industrial use. The chamber is lined with insulation panels (typically 50–100 mm thick) to minimize heat loss and improve energy efficiency. Access doors or hatches are provided along the length of the chamber for cleaning and maintenance.
• Conveyor Belts (Mesh Belts):
  The heart of the dryer is a series of endless mesh belts made of stainless steel wire mesh, PTFE-coated fiberglass, or other heat-resistant materials. These belts are porous to allow air to pass through the product bed. The belts move horizontally and are stacked vertically, forming three to five layers (or more in large units). The product is fed onto the topmost belt, and after traveling its length, it drops onto the belt below through a discharge chute, eventually reaching the lowest belt where the dried product is discharged. The belt speed is adjustable to control residence time within the dryer.
• Air Circulation and Heating System:
  Heated air is supplied into each drying section by a set of centrifugal fans or blowers. The air is heated using steam coils, gas burners, electrical heaters, or hot water coils depending on the energy source. Airflow can be horizontal crossflow or vertical through-flow, and in multi-layer systems, the air direction alternates between layers to ensure uniform drying. The air distribution ducts and diffusers are designed to maintain even air velocity across the belt width.
• Exhaust and Fresh Air System:
  Moisture-laden air is continuously removed through exhaust ducts and dampers, while a controlled volume of fresh air is introduced to maintain the drying environment. Many modern dryers use partial air recirculation to improve thermal efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
• Feeding and Discharging Mechanism:
  The wet material is uniformly fed onto the top belt using a vibratory feeder, screw feeder, or belt spreader to ensure consistent bed thickness. After drying, the product is discharged through the bottom outlet conveyor into collection bins, cooling conveyors, or packaging systems.
• Drive System:
  Each conveyor belt is driven by an independent motor and gearbox assembly or a common shaft drive with speed control. Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are often used to adjust belt speed based on product moisture and desired residence time.
• Control and Instrumentation:
  The dryer is equipped with temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and air pressure indicators in each drying zone. Modern systems use a PLC–HMI control panel to automatically regulate belt speed, air temperature, and exhaust rates to ensure consistent drying and product quality.
• Optional Features:
  Depending on the application, the dryer may include dehumidification units, heat recovery systems, CIP (clean-in-place) spray lines, dust filters, and cooling zones after the final drying stage.