Spray drying processes

The course Spray drying processes provides a comprehensive overview of evaporation and drying processes in dairy applications. It begins with fundamental principles and current technologies, followed by lectures on infant formula, analytical methods, and environmental impact. Participants gain hands-on experience in operating technical center equipment for evaporation and spray drying, as well as conducting chemical and physical analyses of powders. Advanced topics include processing challenging whey streams and improving energy efficiency in evaporation and membrane filtration systems. The course also addresses industrial safety and production aspects, including gas injection, explosion protection, and powder handling, conveying, and packaging. Participants have the optional opportunity to optain 3 ECTS after conducting a case study related to milk concentration and drying.

Day 1: Lectures for introducing into the topic. The fundamentals of evaporation and drying processes as well as the current state of the art are explained.
Day 2: Lectures on infant formula, chemical and microbiological analysis and environmental impact. Following a safety briefing, participants are divided into groups for the practical sessions. In two practical blocks, evaporation process and spray drying trials are carried out on pilot-scale equipment.
Day 3: A lecture will provide an in-depth look at the evaporation of acid whey and other types of whey that require specialized equipment and/or processes. Two additional practical sessions will involve hands-on chemical and physical testing procedures for spray-dried powders.
Day 4: A lecture explains the background to saving energy during the concentration of milk. In a practical session students will be trained to produce roller dried milk powder. Furthermore, they are trained how to analyse the particle size of powders and viscosity of milk concentrates.
Day 5: Key topics such as gas injection in powder production, explosion protection in drying plants, and powder conveying and packaging are explored.

Participants of the course …
…. understand the fundamental principles and current technologies of evaporation and drying processes in dairy applications with a focus on improving efficiency.
… apply practical skills in operating evaporation and drying equipment and conducting methods to analyze the functional properties of milk and whey powders.
… analyze safety and production aspects such as gas injection, explosion protection, and powder handling, conveying, and packaging.
… evaluate process challenges, including handling difficult whey and optimizing energy efficiency in evaporation systems.

Contacts:
Christian Zscherpe, christian.zscherpe@hs-hannover.de
Prof. Dr. Saskia Schwermann, saskia.schwermann@hs-hannover.de