Dehydrators

Our company is specialized in designing and manufacturing industrial food dehydrators. We have over 28 standard models and we also design custom machines.
We can deliver our machines in European Union, Mexico, USA and Canada.

Electrical characteristics

Characteristic	Value
Voltage for Pel > 4kW models FD-<2…7>x<1…4>	3 x 400v AC
Voltage Pel < 4kW models FD-1x<1…4>	3 x 400v AC sau 1 x 230v AC
Fan type, voltage and power (each module in depth has one fan)	High temperature (120°C), high humidity (100%) H class tropicalized motor, 600[mm] diffuser and propeller diameter, aluminum propeller and motor frame, stainless steel motor shaft 3 x 400v AC or 3 x 230v AC / 1.5 kw
Frequency drives for fans	all systems come equipped with frequency drives for fan speed control and energy saving
Actuators voltage and power	24v DC / 5w

Automation System

Characteristic	Value
Software	The system is controlled by specialized software which runs on computer or tablet with Windows or Linux operating system. All the parameters are recorded in a database for further analysis. The system allows more than 10.000 recipes to be created, remote control and monitoring of the process, alarms and many others. The software is continuously updated and the last version can be downloaded for free from our website. Please refer to the automation’s documentation for further information.
Electronics	One relay control board, one parameter board with 2 sets of air parameter sensors, 8 inputs for product moisture monitoring*, one digital to analog board for proportional actuators and fan speed control
Electrical components	industrial grade electrical components
Voltage for automation	• 1 x 230v or • 3 x 400v depending on the model

Thermal characteristics

Thermal energy requirement	avg. 2kWt for each kg of water which is vaporized.
Heating agent	Hot water (deionized) with antifreeze 4:1 at Tprocess max + 15°C, minimum of 85°C. Steam heating is possible for custom builds.
Heating element	Aluminum radiator with 1” connections, 15kw at ΔT = 2…3°C and Qmin = 8000 l/h.
Heating control	Computer controlled actuator tap with flow return connection
Air flow rate	0 – 16.000[m3], variable flow rate due to variable fan speed
Air velocity	0 – 4[m/s]

Shell and mechanical

Shell material	Aluminum resistant in high corrosive environments on the inside, 1.5mm thickness, aluminum painted with electrostatic coating on the outside. Custom builds are also available with stainless steel shell.
Insulation material	100mm thick mineral wool
Assembly and materials	Mostly assembled with aluminum rivets and stainless steel bolts. Certain fasteners and components might be also manufactured out of steel, plastic, brass, copper, or other materials due to their functional role.
Technical space (inside the machine)	960[mm] on each side of the modules, 960[mm] above the carts

Trays and carts

Size of a tray	400[mm] x 600[mm] x 12[mm]
Tray material (standard)	1.5[mm] thick ANSI 304 Stainless Steel frame, with ANSI 304 Stainless Steel Mesh with 2[mm] x 2[mm] x 0.5[mm] weave
Drying area per tray	0.24 [m2]
Cart	48 trays cart, with 2 trays per level, 24 levels spaced at 65[mm], ANSI 304 Stainless Steel frame, high temperature resistant wheels Custom models can be built in certain conditions.

Other information

Due to the modular design of the system only certain dimensions are available. See the Modules chapter for the module’s characteristics. In the table below are the most common dimensions. Other combinations are available, but for larger machinery we recommend using our tunnel dehydrators or belt dehydrators. For details regarding those, please contact us.

If a height restriction exists, small form units can be manufactured. There units have a height of only 2.12 [m] but are wider. See their specifications for more details.

When choosing a configuration you have to take into account the main products that you will be dehydrating. Dehydrating a fast drying product (apple slices for example) will require a deeper and less wide machine. If you dehydrate a slow drying product (whole or half plums or apricots for example) you can use a shallower and wider machine. Also please note that the drying time is proportional with the product’s thickness, so thicker slices will take longer to dry than the thinner ones do. When you choose a machine please also note that the “Load” in this document is given for 6mm apple slices. If you dry whole plums or apricots for example, the “Load” can be double. If you have any doubt, please consult with our specialists when choosing a machine.

Modular design

The system is built around the module concept. The modular system allows adding and removing of modules to an already built machine. To add a module to an already existing system the price is calculated taking into account the following: the number of modules to be added, the size of the current machine and the placement of the new modules. Some configurations might not be possible. Please contact us for a quote and technical information.

The unit size is represented by one module which has the following basic characteristics:

Characteristic	Value
Module dimension (viewed from above)	Normal units: 960[mm] x 960[mm] x (min.) 3100[mm] (H) Small Form units: 960[mm] x 960[mm] x (min.) 2120[mm] (H)
Number of trays	48 pcs.
Number of carts	1 pc. that holds 48 trays on 24 levels (two trays per level), level spacing 65[mm]
Size of a tray	400[mm] x 600[mm] x 12[mm]
Tray material	ANSI 304 frame with ANSI 304 Mesh with 2[mm] x 2[mm] x 0.5[mm] weave
Drying are per tray	0.24 [m2]
Drying area per module	11.52 [m2]
Standard load of one module	50 … 100 [kg / module]
Standard tray loading	1.04 … 2.08[kg/tray]
Standard product quantity per m2	4.3 … 8.7 [kg/m2]
Maximum module load	115 [kg / module]
Maximum tray loading	2.4 [kg/tray]
Maximum product quantity per m2	10 [kg/m2]
Equipment for adding modules on depth	Fan x 1, Radiator x 1, Intake / Exhaust System x 1, Cart x 1, Ceiling x 1
Equipment for adding widening modules	Door x 1, Cart x 1, Ceiling x 1

Machine load

The machine load is dependent on the type of products being dehydrated and the way the products are cut. For products that have a light weight or are cut in a way that doesn’t allow them to be laid on the trays in a space efficient manner, the machine load is less than when the products are heavy or arranged on the trays in thicker layers.
The table below presents a few examples for machine load estimation depending on the type of product and the way the products are cut.

Dimensions

Standard models havea height of: H = 3.08[m]
Small Form models havea height of: H = 2.12[m]

For models deeper than 1 module, we need a space above the dehydrator for the air exhaust and intake piping. These are pipes with a diameter ranging from 125mm to 250mm that take the wet air out of the machine and supply fresh air back inside.

Depending on the placement of the machine and the direction that the piping will take to the exterior wall of the building, the space above the machine (parameter TZ) might vary from 0.6[m] to 1.5[m]. Usually these kinds of machines are used in large industrial areas that can easily accommodate these dimensions. In case of height restrictions, please consider using our Small Form models.

Around the whole machine you need to provide at least 1[m] of free space to comply with the minimum the fire and safety regulations and allow easy assembly and maintenance. In front of the machine you need to provide as much space as you need to fit the carts while loading and unloading them. The minimum space we recommend is 2[m]. The doors are opening at 100 to 170° depending on their position in the assembly. To load the carts with the trays, in front of each door you will mount the removable loading / unloading ramps.

The Small Form models are 960[mm] smaller in height, only 2.12[m] but their L dimmension is greater with 960[mm].

No.	Model Code	Depth D [m]	Width L [m]	Total real estate  surface [m2]	Number of doors [pcs]	Load (average) [kg]
1	FD-1×1	1.06	2.98	3.16	1	50
2	FD-1×2	1.06	3.94	4.18	2	100
3	FD-1×3	1.06	4.9	5.19	3	150
4	FD-1×4	1.06	5.86	6.21	4	200
5	FD-2×1	2.02	2.98	6.02	1	100
6	FD-2×2	2.02	3.94	7.96	2	200
7	FD-2×3	2.02	4.9	9.90	3	300
8	FD-2×4	2.02	5.86	11.84	4	400
9	FD-3×1	2.98	2.98	8.88	1	150
10	FD-3×2	2.98	3.94	11.74	2	300
11	FD-3×3	2.98	4.9	14.60	3	450
12	FD-3×4	2.98	5.86	17.46	4	600
13	FD-4×1	3.94	2.98	11.74	1	200
14	FD-4×2	3.94	3.94	15.52	2	400
15	FD-4×3	3.94	4.9	19.31	3	600
16	FD-4×4	3.94	5.86	23.09	4	800
17	FD-5×1	4.9	2.98	14.60	1	250
18	FD-5×2	4.9	3.94	19.31	2	500
19	FD-5×3	4.9	4.9	24.01	3	750
20	FD-5×4	4.9	5.86	28.71	4	1000
21	FD-6×1	5.86	2.98	17.46	1	300
22	FD-6×2	5.86	3.94	23.09	2	600
23	FD-6×3	5.86	4.9	28.71	3	900
24	FD-6×4	5.86	5.86	34.34	4	1200
25	FD-7×1	6.82	2.98	20.32	1	350
26	FD-7×2	6.82	3.94	26.87	2	700
27	FD-7×3	6.82	4.9	33.42	3	1050
28	FD-7×4	6.82	5.86	39.97	4	1400

For the loading and unloading of the carts, the dehydrators feature two loading ramps on each door. The loading ramps are removable and must be removed before closing the doors. The loading ramps and internal rails on which the carts run are made out of stainless steel. The size of these ramps must be taken into account when placing the machine in the working area.

No.	Model Code	Depth D [m]	Width L [m]	Total real estate  surface [m2]	Number of doors [pcs]	Load (average) [kg]
1	FD-1×1-SF	1.06	3.94	4.18	1	50
2	FD-1×2-SF	1.06	4.90	5.20	2	100
3	FD-1×3-SF	1.06	5.86	6.22	3	150
4	FD-2×2-SF	2.02	4.90	9.90	2	200

Power requirements

The electrical power requirements are calculated only for powering the ventilation and automation systems. In case of a machine that uses electrical power for heating, the thermal requirements are added to the electrical ones.

Note that the minimum power requirements are calculated for a machine loading at the average load and a process that lasts for 10 hours. For faster processes the power requirements rise accordingly.

No.	Model Code	Number of fans / radiators [pcs]	Minimum electrical power requirements [kWe]	Minimum thermal requirements [kWt]	Number of doors [pcs]	Load (average) [kg]
1	FD-1×1 (SF)	1	2	12	1	50
2	FD-1×2 (SF)	1	2	24	2	100
3	FD-1×3 (SF)	1	2	36	3	150
4	FD-1×4	1	2	48	4	200
5	FD-2×1	2	3.5	24	1	100
6	FD-2×2 (SF)	2	3.5	48	2	200
7	FD-2×3	2	3.5	72	3	300
8	FD-2×4	2	3.5	96	4	400
9	FD-3×1	3	5	36	1	150
10	FD-3×2	3	5	72	2	300
11	FD-3×3	3	5	108	3	450
12	FD-3×4	3	5	144	4	600
13	FD-4×1	4	6.5	48	1	200
14	FD-4×2	4	6.5	96	2	400
15	FD-4×3	4	6.5	144	3	600
16	FD-4×4	4	6.5	192	4	800
17	FD-5×1	5	8	60	1	250
18	FD-5×2	5	8	120	2	500
19	FD-5×3	5	8	180	3	750
20	FD-5×4	5	8	240	4	1000
21	FD-6×1	6	9.5	72	1	300
22	FD-6×2	6	9.5	144	2	600
23	FD-6×3	6	9.5	216	3	900
24	FD-6×4	6	9.5	288	4	1200
25	FD-7×1	7	11	84	1	350
26	FD-7×2	7	11	168	2	700
27	FD-7×3	7	11	252	3	1050
28	FD-7×4	7	11	336	4	1400

Automation

The dehydrators are equipped with an automation system for process control. The main features of the automation system are:
• The system is controlled by an application which runs on a Windows computer;
• It can be remotely controlled and monitored it has access to the internet;
• All the processes are saved in Access databases and can be exported to various formats, displayed and analysed at any time;
• The computer is equipped with touch screen (it is usually a computer or mini PC with a touchscreen monitor);
• Standard recipes are provided for most of the fruits and vegetables. All the recipes are editable and the user can choose the required parameters. The recipes database gets updated sometimes and can be downloaded and imported for free;
• The software updates can be downloaded for free from one of out websites;
• The air parameters are measured with electronic sensors in two points: before and after the products. These parameters are the temperature and the relative humidity;
• The humidity of the products is optionally measured electronically. This system is usually used for research and development of recipes and involves some manpower to set up for each process. This system is not included as standard;
• The automation electrical panel is equipped with high quality industrial components;
• The fans are controlled by a frequency inverter to allow variable sir velocity control and changing the direction of the air flow;
• The fans are IP65 protected and have class H insulation winding to withstand high temperatures and humidity;
• The heating and intake / exhaust control systems are equipped with servomotors;
• The system can be powered from 1 x 230V or 3 x 400V. Custom systems can be built for standard voltages outside this range. We recommend using the three phase electrical grid 3 x 400V.

The characteristics of the automation system might change without notice when upgrades are made. Our company tries to offer our customers the latest updates for our software for free without the need for hardware modifications even after the warranty period has passed, but sometimes this might not be possible without upgrading some hardware also. Upgrades and updates under warranty are always free.

For any question please contact us at:

SC. Blue Spark Systems SRL.

RO24463819, J40/15560/2008, Bucharest, Romania

Telefon: (+4)0760.990.888

WhatsApp: 40760990888

eMail: deshidrator@gmail.com

Facebook: /deshidratoare

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