GEA New Generation Pre-Dryer for pasta

The GEA New Generation Pre-Dryer for the first stage of pasta drying has improved accessibility to reduce cleaning time and maintenance costs, improving the efficiency of the process using CFD simulation.

The number of shelves which transport the pasta from the inlet to the outlet of the machine by vibration have been reduced from nine to three to increase drying efficiency. The shelves are removable and can be replaced. The design has also increased the machine performances, reducing drying time and product spillage for a production level of 2000 kg/h.

Air/product interaction is maximised by the ‘Down-Top’ ventilation concept, which can optimise counter-current heating of the product. The ventilation motors have been located outside the drying chamber where they are not exposed to extremes of heat, allowing them to be more easily removed for servicing.

The stainless steel dryer uses a modular design that can be adapted to manage different production capacities with the option to couple two machines in parallel if required. It also has a more compact design compared to its predecessors and can be adapted to fit into existing lines.