FLUID BED DRYER FOR FERTILIZERS REDUCING ENERGY COST Fertilizers are generally classified as either inorganic or organic. Inorganic fertilizers are sometimes called synthetic fertilizers since various chemical treatments are required for their manufacture. Organic fertilizers are natural and are usually derived from (recycled) plant or animal matter. Inorganic Fertilizers Inorganic Fertilizers are classified in many ways. A “straight” fertilizer has only one nutrient, while a “multi-nutrient” fertilizer has more than one nutrient. “NPK” fertilizers contain all three of the most common nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Potash is a term for any of various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. Today, potash is produced worldwide at amounts exceeding 30 million tons per year; mostly for use in fertilizers. Various types of fertilizer-potash constitute the single largest global industrial use of the element potassium. Ventilex Fertilizer Dryer Benefits: High energy savings—up to 40% Corrosion resistant Minimal wear-and-tear Rugged construction Reliable, long service life State-of-the-art controls Accurate product temperature control Ideal for abrasive materials — less wear Fertilizer Plant Organic Fertilizer: The main "organic fertilizers", in ranked order are: peat, animal waste, plant waste from agriculture, and sewage sludge. In terms of volume, peat is the most widely used organic fertilizer. This immature form of coal provides no nutritional value to the plants, but improves the soil through aeration and by absorbing water. Animal sources include the products of the slaughter of animals. Blood meal, bone meal, hides, hoofs, and horns are typical components. Organic fertilizer usually contains less nutrients. However, they offer other advantages and are more appealing to environmentally conscious users. Ventilex Energy Efficient Fertilizer Dryers Ventilex, the first fluid bed dryer manufacturer to recirculate exhaust to recapture the heat used to dry material, has a long history of engineering and manufacturing fluid bed dryers that are both energy efficient and durable. The plug flow characteristics of the Ventilex drive mechanism provide predictable residence time when drying fertilizer and other bulk www.ventilex.com www.potashdryer.com

products. By continuously monitoring the moisture content of the incoming fertilizer along with the dryer operating temperature; our proprietary control algorithm adjusts temperature or residence time to ensure that the fertilizer is dried to specification without over drying or wasting thermal energy. And, yes, we still recirculate exhaust to promote efficiency. Gentle Drying The Ventilex fertilizer dryer utilizes a reciprocating motion to help fluidize the material. This gentle reciprocating motion resembles that of a steam locomotive. Unlike high frequency fluid bed designs which can generate...

How Does a Ventilex Fluid Bed Fertilizer Dryer Work? In a continuous fluid bed dryer/cooler a continuous flow of wet granular material is dried and subsequently cooled. Drying of the material occurs by direct contact between the material to be dried and the hot drying air that is blown through a layer of product. Besides the selection of the right materials, the shaking motion of the Ventilex fluid bed is unique. Our reciprocating motion is a very gentle way of moving the fluid bed as well as the product inside. This generates the least amount of stress possible on the product, the equipment,...

Why Ventilex? Drying systems for fertilizer products can consume a lot of energy leading to significantly higher operational costs and low margins. Increased wear-and-tear due to the abrasive nature of the materials being processed can mean frequent maintenance, repairs, or replacement expenses. Many industry leaders have already chosen Ventilex fluid bed systems for their drying and cooling needs. A Ventilex fluid bed saves space, consumes less energy, and reduces product loss. Our customers also indicate that the installation and maintenance costs associated with a Ventilex fluid bed are significantly...