Spray dryer – drying of suspensions, emulsions and milk powder

MYSAK Group spray dryers are systems for continuous drying of liquid and semi-liquid raw materials – solutions, suspensions, emulsions and pastes – transforming them into free-flowing products: powder, dust or agglomerate in a single process cycle. A spray dryer converts a liquid into a finished powder within a few to several seconds, which limits the exposure of heat-sensitive components to high temperatures and allows the functional properties of the product to be preserved. Depending on the size and complexity of the system, we can manufacture spray dryers in our own production facility (workshop) in Mrowino near Poznań. Each installation is individually designed, including ATEX protection where required by the properties of the raw material.

Application of spray dryers

Spray dryers are used in the drying and dehydration of substances in solution or colloidal systems. The raw material can be in the form of a paste or liquid, while the final product is a fine powder, dust or agglomerate.

Typical applications include:

  • milk powder, whey and other dairy products,
  • instant coffee and coffee extracts,
  • herbal, plant and fruit extracts,
  • sports nutrition, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals,
  • food flavourings and colorants,
  • modified starch and starch hydrolysates,
  • chemical products: detergents, pigments, polymers.

A spray dryer is the standard solution wherever a liquid or paste raw material needs to be converted into a powder with precisely defined particle size and moisture content. More about applications in the starch processing industry: Food industry.

Description and operating principle of spray dryers

The operating principle of a spray dryer is based on atomising the liquid raw material through an atomiser inside the drying chamber, where the liquid droplets come into contact with hot air and lose moisture within seconds, forming a dry powder. The powder is collected from the bottom of the chamber, while cyclones and a bag filter ensure separation of fine particles and the purification of the exhaust air.

Components of a spray drying installation:

  • feed and raw material preparation system (feed tank, pump, filter),
  • atomiser (disc or nozzle type – selected according to the properties of the raw material and the required particle size),
  • drying chamber,
  • powder collection system (bottom section of the chamber, cyclones),
  • bag filter,
  • drying air preparation system (air heater, fan),
  • control system.

ATEX protection is a standard component of installations processing raw materials that can form explosive atmospheres with air – this applies to many food and chemical powders. MYSAK Group carries out explosion risk assessments and selects installation components in accordance with the applicable zone classification (zones 20, 21, 22 under the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU).

Learn more about our spray dryer project – a case study of the implementation process.

Technical data

The parameters of a spray dryer are individually selected based on the properties of the raw material and the requirements for the final product. Key variables include:

  • Evaporation capacity – the amount of water to be removed in kg/h, determining the heating power and chamber size.
  • Inlet air temperature – adjusted to the thermal sensitivity of the raw material; higher temperatures for inorganic and chemical raw materials, lower for biologically active ingredients and enzymes.
  • Outlet air temperature – determines the final moisture content of the powder.
  • Atomiser type – disc atomiser (for higher flow rates) or nozzle atomiser (for higher pressures, finer particle size).
  • Powder particle size – selected by choice of atomiser type, speed and pressure.
  • ATEX protection – flammable powders require Ex-rated equipment and installations.

Contact our technical department to obtain indicative parameter ranges for your raw material.

How much does a spray dryer cost? Price and quotation

The price of a spray dryer depends on:

  • required evaporation capacity (kg/h) and drying chamber size,
  • atomiser type (rotary disc vs pressure nozzle),
  • scope of supply and level of automation,
  • material and hygiene requirements (stainless steel, HACCP),
  • ATEX protection requirements and documentation scope.

We do not provide catalogue prices – each spray dryer is individually designed and quoted. Fill in the contact form or call us directly to discuss your requirements and receive an indicative quotation.

Why MYSAK – spray dryers from the manufacturer

MYSAK Group has been designing and manufacturing spray dryers for over 20 years. Depending on the size and complexity, we produce them in our own production facility (workshop) in Mrowino near Poznań – from concept design through 3D documentation and P&ID drawings to assembly, commissioning and training. All equipment meets CE standards and EU directives. Where the process requires protection against dust explosion, we provide full ATEX documentation – providing a significant advantage over suppliers of used machinery, where compliance with applicable safety regulations cannot always be guaranteed.

FAQ - spray dryers

A spray dryer is a device that converts a liquid or semi-liquid raw material (solution, suspension, emulsion, paste) into a dry powder by atomising it into a stream of hot air. It is used wherever a liquid needs to be converted into a powder with controlled granulation and moisture content – for example, in the production of milk powder, instant coffee, herbal extracts, and nutritional supplements.

The liquid raw material is atomised into fine droplets by a disc or nozzle atomiser inside the drying chamber. The droplets come into contact with hot air, immediately lose moisture and fall as dry powder. The entire cycle takes a few to several seconds, which protects heat-sensitive components from degradation.

A fine powder, dust or agglomerate with controlled granulation and low moisture content, ready for further processing, packaging or dissolution. Granulation can be adjusted by selecting the type and operating parameters of the atomiser.

Yes, if the processed powder forms an explosive mixture with air – which applies to many food raw materials (starch, lactose, proteins) and chemical products. MYSAK Group carries out an explosion risk assessment and classifies ATEX zones as an integral part of the installation design.

Yes. Each installation is individually designed: atomiser type, drying temperature, powder particle size, capacity and protection scope are all matched to the specific raw material and the requirements of the final product.