The term fluidization is used to designate an operation in which particulate solids are suspended in an upward current of air or other fluid. When this happens, the bed of particles starts to behave like a fluid, mainly regarding to its flow properties, acquiring a rheological behavior of a liquid.
Labmaq do Brasil manufactures and supplies fluidized and spouted beds (a variant of the fluidized bed) of different scales according to the demand and needs of its customers, with its own innovative projects. They are compact, versatile, robust and offer excellent results and performance. Labmaq fluidized beds can perform drying, coating, extraction, fluid dynamics studies, mixing and granulation operations, covering a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, agriculture, chemical, polymer, ceramics, cosmetics and aroma industries, among others.
Industrial Fluidized Bed
The fluidized bed for industrial processes is a customized equipment designed for executing pre-developed processes such as drying, mixing, extraction, granulation, and coating. It is ideal for use in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical, agrotech, biotech, and other industries. In addition to being robust, the equipment can be customized to meet your specific needs.
All parts that come into contact with materials involved in the process are made of stainless steel 304 or 316L, and it features absolute filters for process air treatment.
By default, we use a dedicated panel for control and automation with a PLC system, a touch screen HMI, and a USB output for data capture, command, and process report generation in a spreadsheet.
The equipment comes with a complete operation manual, a suggested SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), and a spare parts list.
Model comparison table
| MLF-100 | FBD 1.0 | FBD 3.0 | Custom FBD | |
| Capacity | 2 to 100g | 200 to 1,000g | 500 to 3,000g |
20 to 200kg |
| Drying | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ |
| Coating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ |
| Mixing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ |
| Granulation and Agglomeration | X | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ |
| Extraction | X | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ |
| Pharmaceutical Standard | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ |
| Atomization | Bottom Spray | Bottom and Top Spray | Bottom and Top Spray |
Bottom and Top Spray |
| Maximum Energy Consumption | 2200W | 6000W | 10000W |
Variable |
| Dimensions in mm (LxHxW) | 400 x 700 x 650 | 1000 x 1900 x 650 | 1000 x 1900 x 650 | Variable |
OPERATIONS:
DRYING
When drying pastes and solids in general, you simply need to feed the bed with the product to be dehydrated and control the process variables, such as air flow and temperature. Design variables are also important to define the best fluidization regime to dry your product. The variables controlled in this process are the inlet or outlet temperature, the drying air flow, the liquid feed flow and the atomization compressed air flow.
GRANULATION AND AGGLOMERATION
In granulation, the particles are suspended by an air stream that is injected while the binder liquid or agglomerator is sprayed through the atomization system. Thus, the finer particles are agglomerated into larger granules and the air flow allows drying throughout the process. In this process, there is a vast amount of variables that can influence the final granulation, mainly related to the formulation of the granulating agent and the physicochemical properties of the material or mixture of materials to be granulated. Another important category that deserves a great deal of attention is the temperature control and the air flow used, which directly affects the formation and friction of the granules.Therefore, using the fluidized bed in this type of process is very important and efficient in controlling the formation and quality of the granules.
COATING
Coating or covering in a fluidized bed is a process in which the particles are suspended by an air stream that is injected while the coating liquid is atomized through the atomizing nozzle. The solution involves the particle in a simultaneous wetting and drying process until it forms a homogeneous layer with specific characteristics. Coatings are used, among their many functions, to protect the cores against unfavorable environmental conditions such as excessive humidity and sunlight; to mask unpleasant organoleptic characteristics; modify or produce homogeneous coloration; increase mechanical stability; and protect against unfavorable physiological conditions of pH or action of gastrointestinal tract enzymes. Furthermore, it enables the controlled or slow release of active ingredients in the body.
MIXING
In fluidization, the bed of solid particles acquires a fluid behavior using the air flowr through it. Considering this, a good mixture of these materials is achieved, further increasing the heat and mass transfer rates. Thus, the choice of materials to be placed in the bed, as well as their characteristics, influence the fluid dynamic behavior, contributing to a more effective and homogeneous mixture.
EXTRACTION
The fluidized bed extraction process is a technique that has been used mainly to separate certain samples, generally powdery, from a solid matrix. In this process, the air passage through these compounds (matrix + powdery particle) causes the powder to come off over time and the control of variables such as the amount of air used, as well as the temperature, directly affect this removal. Depending on the objectives, both the loose powder and the solid matrix can be recovered.