Tray Dryer
A hot-air convection dryer for batch drying of wet granules, powders, herbal extracts and chemical intermediates — built on SS304/SS316 contact parts with adjustable, uniform air distribution across loaded trays.
The TCS Tray Dryer circulates filtered, heated air through a stack of perforated or wire-mesh trays mounted on a wheeled trolley inside an insulated, double-wall chamber. Airflow direction, velocity and temperature are independently adjustable, allowing consistent moisture removal across every tray in the load rather than just the trays nearest the heating bank.
It is typically the first or last thermal step in a process line — taking wet granules straight from a Rapid Mixer Granulator, or finishing herbal extract and food-ingredient batches before milling and packing. Heating source (electric, steam or thermic fluid) is selected based on the customer's existing utility infrastructure.
- 01Ambient or fresh make-up air is drawn in through a pre-filter and passed over the heating bank (electric coil, steam coil, or thermic fluid coil).
- 02A centrifugal blower distributes the heated air through a plenum into the chamber, directed across each tray via adjustable louvers/dampers.
- 03Moisture evaporates from the product surface into the passing air stream; a portion of the moisture-laden air is exhausted while fresh air is drawn in to maintain drying efficiency.
- 04A digital temperature controller holds chamber temperature within the set range until the target loss-on-drying or batch time is reached.
Typical Applications
Industries Served
Where Tray Dryer sits in a typical process line
SS304 / SS316 Contact Parts
Material of construction selected per product sensitivity and customer specification.
Adjustable Air Dampers
Independent control of air velocity and direction across the tray stack.
Insulated Double-Wall Panels
PUF / mineral wool insulated cladding reduces heat loss and external surface temperature.
Digital Temperature Control
PID-based controller with optional data logging for batch records.
Uniform, Repeatable Drying
Adjustable airflow minimises tray-to-tray variation in moisture content at the end of a batch.
Flexible Across Batch Sizes
Trolley-and-tray format scales from pilot batches to full production loads on the same platform.
Lower Long-Term Maintenance
Simple mechanical design — blower, heating bank, dampers — with few moving parts inside the product zone.
| Model | No. of Trays | Tray Size (mm) | Loading Capacity (kg/batch) | Heating Source | Connected Load (kW) | Temp. Range (°C) | Overall Dimensions L×W×H (mm) | MOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCS-TD-24 | 24 | 760 × 460 | 60–90 | Electric | 9 | 40–150 | 1500×1200×2100 | SS304 |
| TCS-TD-48 | 48 | 760 × 460 | 120–180 | Electric / Steam | 15 | 40–150 | 1800×1400×2300 | SS304 / SS316 |
| TCS-TD-96 | 96 | 760 × 460 | 240–360 | Steam / Thermic Fluid | 24 | 40–150 | 2400×1800×2400 | SS304 / SS316 |
| TCS-TD-144 | 144 | 760 × 460 | 360–540 | Steam / Thermic Fluid | 32 | 40–150 | 3000×2000×2500 | SS316 |
| TCS-TD-240 | 240 | 760 × 460 | 600–900 | Thermic Fluid | 48 | 40–150 | 3600×2400×2600 | SS316 |
- ChamberDouble-wall, insulated, SS304/SS316 internal cladding with mirror or matte finish.
- DoorsHinged or sliding, silicone-gasketed for minimal air leakage.
- TraysSS perforated or wire-mesh, mounted on a wheeled SS trolley.
- Heating BankElectric coil / steam coil / thermic fluid coil, sized to required temperature rise.
- BlowerCentrifugal blower with TEFC motor, belt or direct drive.
- ControlsDigital PID temperature controller; PLC/SCADA available as optional upgrade.
Designed with cGMP and xGMP principles in mind
Construction practices — crevice-free welding, sloped and cleanable internal surfaces, contact-part finishing — are aligned with commonly accepted xGMP expectations for pharmaceutical drying equipment, and the design supports FDA-oriented documentation practices such as DQ/IQ/OQ protocols. TCS does not issue regulatory certification. Compliance of the installed equipment within a specific facility is subject to the customer's own validation, qualification and regulatory process.
What materials can a Tray Dryer process?
Wet granules, powders, herbal extracts, food ingredients and chemical intermediates that are not solvent-laden are typically suitable. Solvent-wet materials are generally better suited to a Vacuum Tray Dryer.
What is the difference between a Tray Dryer and a Vacuum Tray Dryer?
A standard Tray Dryer dries by convective hot air at atmospheric pressure, while a Vacuum Tray Dryer dries under reduced pressure using heated shelves — suited to heat-sensitive or solvent-wet material where solvent recovery is required.
What temperature range does the Tray Dryer operate in?
Standard units operate roughly between 40°C and 150°C, depending on the heating source selected. Subject to process requirement.
What batch capacity can be supplied?
Standard models range from 24 to 240 trays; larger custom configurations can be engineered against a confirmed process datasheet.
What utilities are required to operate the dryer?
Electrical supply is required in all configurations; steam or thermic fluid supply is additionally required for steam-heated or thermic-fluid-heated models.
Can the dryer be supplied with GMP documentation?
Yes — a DQ/IQ/OQ documentation package can be supplied as an optional add-on alongside the standard manufacturing data and test certificates.
How is the chamber cleaned between batches?
Manual cleaning is standard; a CIP-compatible interior is available as an optional feature for higher-frequency changeover environments.
What is the typical lead time for delivery?
Lead time depends on model size, heating source and any optional documentation requested. Subject to process requirement — confirmed at order stage.
Product Brochure
PLACEHOLDER — brochure file to be attached
GA Drawing
PLACEHOLDER — general arrangement drawing to be attached
Technical Datasheet
PLACEHOLDER — datasheet to be attached
Get a sizing recommendation for your batch.
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