University of Herts KTP with Secomak Creates Pioneering Energy-Saving System

An innovative energy-saving drying system for use in the manufacturing industry has been developed by the University of Hertfordshire and Secomak, based in Elstree.

Energy-Saving Drying System

The technology is the direct result of a government-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership to which University of Hertfordshire graduate in aerospace systems, David Palmer, has brought his skills in computational fluid dynamics, project management and project planning to deliver a drying process modelled on the energy expenditure of a hybrid car.

The solution is a drying tunnel with three parts. It incorporates innovative compressed air drying of specific areas such as under the crown cap of a bottle or suction removal of water from containers or products.

The blower driven stage uses a drying panel configuration to dry as efficiently and quietly as possible with full control.

Finally, a controlled humidity atmosphere takes the product to the final stage without condensation reforming on the surfaces.

Control of all systems provides intelligent stop/start when containers are present and moving.

This saves around 30 per cent of the energy and the matching of the speed of the electrical blower to the water saturation takes this value to over 50 per cent savings.

David said: “The big advantage of this system is that the machine is equipped with sensors which sense when product needs to be dried, rather than the dryer working all the time.

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This works in a similar way to energy-saving systems in hybrid vehicles and means that the energy consumption of our machine is directly proportional to the throughput of the product.”

The University of Hertfordshire’s KTP with Secomak, the industry leader in air movement technologies, is coming to a close, after a highly innovative 27 months together.

The university’s innovative input for Secomak was noticed by businesses all over the world when it was displayed at the global food and drink exhibition, Drinktec Munich.

The KTP was also pivotal in recognising the energy-saving properties of yet another collaborated product – the Tornado – at last year’s Starpack Awards. 

The water removal system received special recognition in the Machinery of Excellence category for an impressive 30 per cent energy-saving efficiency.