Seed, grain, and food processing dryers
Achieve faster, more uniform drying without clumping
What is a fluidized bed dryer
A fluidized bed dryer (FBD) is a machine that can prevent clumping and remove external moisture from seeds or pelletized seeds. They can shorten the drying time of a variety of seeds. Fluidized bed dryer processors use the principle of fluidization to convert granular material from a static solid state into a more dynamic fluid-like form and then introduce ambient or hot air that is passed up around the particles. The granular material is then suspended in the air, surrounded by it as if it’s in a bed of boiling liquid. This results in a high moisture removal rate and uniform dried material output.
Dryer uses
A fluidized bed dryer is a machine that can remove external moisture from treated seeds. The key advantages of fluidized bed drying emerge from good solids mixing, prevent clumping, high mass, and heat transfer, and prevent damage of thermo-sensitive materials. The granular material is then effectively mixed, creating a homogeneous material at the vertical cross-section of the dryer. Due to fluidization and slope, the granular material moves forward along the dryer producing a uniformity of dry product exiting on the discharge end.
Two dryers. One exceptional standard.
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DVX Dryers
Oliver DVX Vibrating Fluidized Bed Dryers use touchscreen automation, moving air, and a vibrating tilted bed to reduce clumping, speed cleanup, improve product appearance, and deliver faster, more uniform drying.
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FBD Dryers
Oliver FBD Fluidized Bed Dryers use moving air and a vibrating tilted bed to reduce clumping, simplify cleanup, improve product appearance, and deliver faster, more uniform drying.
How do Oliver Manufacturing dryers work?
Oliver Manufacturing fluidized bed dryers use controlled airflow, deck vibration, and deck angle to lift wet product into a gently suspended, fluid-like state. As the material moves across the deck, air passes evenly around each particle, evaporating moisture while the vibration helps break apart clumps and keeps the product moving toward discharge.
Operators adjust airflow, deck speed, and deck angle to control drying time and product movement. The result is faster, more uniform drying with less clumping, improved flowability, and gentler handling of coated, treated, or washed seeds and other products. The automated DVX series manages these settings through a touchscreen and programmable controls, while standard FBD models use manual controls.
In the fluidized bed drying process, (a) wet product enters the vibrating deck, (b) upward airflow lifts and suspends the particles while moisture evaporates, and (c) deck motion and angle move the dried, free-flowing product toward discharge.
Frequently asked questions about Oliver dryers
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Determining the right dryer size depends on several factors, including your desired throughput, batch size, and the amount of moisture being added during treatment. Our team uses these factors to calculate the appropriate dryer size for your specific application.
Key considerations include:
Desired throughput: What is your total processing capacity or target throughput?
Moisture added: How much moisture is being applied to the seed during treatment?
Batch size: How much seed are you processing in each run?
Drying requirements: Each dryer model has a specific water-removal rate, which determines how quickly it can bring the treated seed back to the desired moisture level.
By evaluating these factors together, we can determine the dryer size best suited to your operation and drying requirements.
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Yes, we offer a variety of options:
Our standard option is a natural gas or propane heat system, ranging from 0.75MMBTU to 5.00MMBTU.
We offer hot water/steam heating sources for drying.
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Automated dryers.
Include a completed control cabinet with a PLC and HMI touchscreen.
Control of the heat package is built into the HMI controls.
Temperature and humidity sensors across each drying zone.
Ability to save recipes.
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Oliver dryers are designed to remove surface moisture only.
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Set point and seed temperature: You will often have a higher set point that is allowable for a seed temperature because of the evaporative cooling effect.
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Yes, Oliver dryers can be used for both pelletizing and encrustment applications. However, proper it sizing is especially important because these processes typically add more moisture to the seed than the standard treatment applications.
For these applications, the mid-gate and end-gate can be used to retain the seed to obtain a longer drying duration, allowing time for effective moisture removal.
We typically recommend the DVX Dryer because its mid-gate and end gate configuration provides the additional control and retention time need to effectively dry pellets or encrustments.
The gravity separator
Introduction to Oliver’s platinum line of separators
Oliver Manufacturing gravity separators
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