Vibrating Fluid-Bed Dryers: Advanced Drying & Cooling Solutions for Bulk Materials
Botek machinery’s industrial vibrating fluid-bed dryers provide efficient, uniform drying and cooling for powders, granules, and crystals that are difficult to process using conventional methods. By combining fluidization technology with controlled vibration, we achieve optimal heat transfer while preventing material degradation—making these systems ideal for heat-sensitive products across chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and mineral industries.
How Vibrating Fluid-Bed Technology Works
Unlike static fluid beds, our vibrating fluid-bed dryers use controlled mechanical vibration to enhance material fluidization and transport. Process air passes through a perforated distribution plate, creating a fluidized material bed, while synchronized vibration ensures consistent forward movement without channeling or dead zones. This dual-action system provides precise retention time control and prevents issues like overheating, uneven drying, or product damage.
Key Technical Advantages
1.Enhanced Fluidization: Vibration allows processing of cohesive, sticky, or irregular materials that won’t fluidize in conventional beds.
2.Energy Efficient Operation: Lower fluidizing velocities reduce energy consumption by 20-40% compared to static fluid beds.
3.Precise Temperature Control: Multi-zone designs enable different temperature profiles in a single unit.
4.Gentle Product Handling: Reduced particle attrition and minimal product degradation.
5.Sanitary Construction: Available in 304, 316L, or 316Ti stainless steel with USDA/3A compliant finishes.
6.Customizable Configurations: Multiple sizes (from lab to production) with various heating options and control systems.
Core System Components
1. Hot Air System
Filtration capacity up to 15,000 m³/h
Multiple heat sources: electric, steam, thermal oil, or direct/indirect gas firing
High-efficiency heat exchangers with 310S stainless steel construction
Temperature control accuracy: ±2°C.
2. Drying/Cooling Chamber
Upper chamber: Expanded design reduces air velocity for better particle separation.
Lower chamber: Reinforced box-frame construction with optimized plenum design.
Distribution plate: 304or 316L stainless steel with combined serpentine/straight hole patterns.
Vibration system: Adjustable frequency (0-25 Hz) and amplitude (0-10 mm).
3. Dust Collection System
Primary cyclones with 99%+ collection efficiency.
Optional bag filters or wet scrubbers for fine particles.
Explosion-proof designs available.
Stainless steel construction for corrosive applications.
4. Control & Monitoring
PLC-based automation with touch-panel interface.
Automatic temperature and feed rate control.
Real-time monitoring of all critical parameters.
Data logging and recipe management.
Remote monitoring capabilities.
Data Sheet
| Model | Bed Area | Inlet air temperature | Outlet air temperature | Evaporation water capacity | Vibration motor | |
| (BVFB) | （㎡） | （℃） | （℃） | （kg/h） | Model | Power（k w） |
| 3×0.3 | 0.9 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 20-35 | ZDS31-6 | 0.8×2 |
| 4.5×0.3 | 1.35 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 35-50 | ZDS31-6 | 0.8×2 |
| 4.5×0.45 | 2.025 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 50-70 | ZDS32-6 | 1.1×2 |
| 4.5×0.6 | 2.7 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 70-90 | ZDS32-6 | 1.1×2 |
| 6×0.45 | 2.7 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 80-100 | ZDS41-6 | 1.5×2 |
| 6×0.6 | 3.6 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 100-130 | ZDS41-6 | 1.5×2 |
| 6×0.75 | 4.5 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 120-140 | ZDS42-6 | 2.2×2 |
| 6×0.9 | 5.4 | 70-140 | 40-70 | 140-170 | ZDS42-6 | 2.2×2 |
Note: Show Only Some Models
Configuration and application of the Vibrating Fluid Bed Dryer
Vibrating Fluid Bed Dryer with dumping station and belt conveyor for food industry
Vibrating Fluid Bed Dryer with belt conveyor for chemical industry
Vibrating Fluid Bed Dryer with vibration screen at Spanish customer site
Beyond the VFB Dryer, do you need other equipment?
VFB Dryer FAQS
A vibrating fluid-bed dryer combines fluidization technology with mechanical vibration. Process air fluidizes materials through a perforated plate while controlled vibration moves the bed forward uniformly. This dual-action system offers significant advantages over standard fluid beds, particularly for handling difficult materials like cohesive powders, sticky products, or fragile granules that resist fluidization or require gentle processing.
Our vibrating fluid-bed systems excel with materials that present challenges for conventional drying methods:
Cohesive or sticky powders (e.g., certain chemicals, food ingredients)
Heat-sensitive products requiring precise temperature control
Fragile granules or crystals prone to attrition or breakage
Wide particle size distributions or irregular shapes
High-moisture content materials needing staged drying
Common applications include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food products, minerals, and specialty materials like polymers or catalysts.
Our systems typically provide 20-40% energy savings due to optimized air velocities, efficient heat exchangers, and reduced drying times. The vibration-enhanced fluidization allows for lower air volumes and temperatures while maintaining high heat transfer efficiency. We also offer optional heat recovery systems to capture and reuse waste heat, further improving energy performance.
We offer hygienic-grade dryers with:
AISI 304, 316L, or 316Ti stainless steel construction
USDA, 3A, or EHEDG-compliant surface finishes
Smooth, crevice-free interiors with coved corners
Quick-disassembly components for cleaning and inspection
Validated CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems
Gasket-free designs where applicable
Our dryers protect product quality through:
Controlled, uniform vibration that prevents particle damage
Precise temperature control with multiple heating zones
Optimized retention time to prevent over-drying
Gentle fluidization that minimizes particle attrition
Advanced control systems that maintain consistent moisture levels
Yes. Our dryers can process materials with initial moisture content up to 30% (and higher with special configurations). For very high moisture content, we often recommend:
Multi-stage systems with different temperature zones
Recirculating air systems with dehumidification
Pre-conditioning stages before the main dryer
Special distribution plates for better fluidization
Drying times typically range from 2-30 minutes depending on:
Material characteristics (particle size, moisture content)
Required final moisture content
Processing temperature
Product sensitivity
Our systems handle capacities from 50 kg/h to 20,000 kg/h (wet product), with customizable bed areas from 0.5 m² to 40 m².
Yes, we specialize in complete system integration:
Upstream equipment: Feeders, mixers, granulators, centrifuges
Downstream equipment: Coolers, classifiers, mills, packaging systems
Auxiliary systems: Dust collectors, heat recovery, solvent recovery
Automation: Full PLC control with SCADA interfaces