MINNEAPOLIS — Donaldson Company, Inc. has introduced a new smart drying solution for food and beverage processors. Its new Ultrapac™ Smart dryer uses a three-step separation process — filtering, drying and purifying — to remove condensate and dries compressed air streams.

The compact, stand-alone dryer is designed to extend the lifetime of the equipment and filters, also resulting in lower maintenance costs.

“In recent years, Donaldson has made important technological advances in process filtration, including the introduction of our highly successful LifeTec™ liquid filters,” said Colter Marcks, global engineering manager Donaldson’s Process Filtration business. “Our latest innovation — the Ultrapac Smart dryer — provides clean, dry compressed air at critical points of use in industrial production facilities. This, in turn, extends the life of plant equipment, supports product and process integrity, and helps provide a safe and productive work environment.”

The Ultrapac Smart dryer can accommodate custom plant locations and spatial limitations, fitting with most large equipment, conveyor lines and other processing machinery. It features a modular design, including vertical, horizontal or wall configurations, and is available in Superplus, Plus and Standard versions.

The dryer is a plug-and-play solution and includes easy-access and easy-to-replace components, including filter parts and the desiccant cartridge. It is fitted with Donaldson’s UltraPleat™ filtration technology and a depth filter to optimize the separation of liquids, improve water vapor adsorption capacity, decrease pressure loss and conserve compressed air energy.

Additionally, a touchscreen display for the Superplus dryer improves proactive monitoring of real-time performance levels, including pressure dew points and adsorption status. The Ultrapac Smart dryer also offers a reduced noise level through Donaldson’s UltraSilencer technology.

“Proactively monitoring dryer performance is critical to ensure your compressed air is being filtered and dried properly. The costs associated with wet and dirty air can add up quickly due to more frequent filter changes and other unexpected maintenance needs,” Marcks said.

The drying solution can be integrated to a plant’s central control unit, or a compressor load signal to enable the system only when the compressor is running, Donaldson said. The system features input and output modules to provide flexibility, and is compliant with ISO 8573-1:2010, ISO 7183 and ISO 3744 standards.

Find more articles about the latest pet food processing technologies on our Equipment page.