A new generation of Conair Carousel Plus® desiccant dryers – D Series portable dryers and dX Series mobile drying/conveying systems – offer superior resin-drying performance together with advanced yet easy-to-use controls, high reliability and energy efficiency, and an innovative new air-to-air aftercooling option. The official debut of the new dryers will be at NPE 2018, where Conair is exhibiting in Booths W1845 and S14045. The show takes place May 7 – 11 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando FL.

The new Carousel Plus® D Series portable dryer (left) and dX Series mobile drying/conveying system offer advanced features, easy-to-use controls, and a new air-to-air intercooling option that eliminates the need for a cooling water supply.

The new dryers are the product of a top-to-bottom redesign of Conair’s Carousel Plus® desiccant dryer architecture affecting portable dryers and mobile drying/conveying systems (the former W Series and MDCW Series) sized from 15 to 400 lbs/hr throughput. Shaped by customer feedback and a focus on human factors engineering, the new D and dX Series dryers combine a new and feature-packed control interface with high-reliability components that maximize performance, uptime, and energy efficiency. These are housed in a new, space efficient chassis that not only preserves floor space but offers easier, more direct access to key components and to user-serviceable items like filters.

The new D and dX Series dryers also utilize new air-to-air aftercooling. Aftercooling is required to reduce the temperature of the return air from the drying hopper, which improves the moisture-absorption efficiency of the desiccant. Now, processors may specify dryers equipped with either an optional air-to-water aftercooler or the new air-to-air aftercooler. The air-to-air unit can sustain drying efficiency while handling return-air temperatures of up to 375F (190.5C) and dew points of -40F (-40C). At the same time, it saves water, maximizes dryer portability, and makes installation and setup faster and easier.

NEW CONTROLS

At the heart of the new dryers is the new DC-C programmable electronic controller, which was developed specifically for drying applications. The control uses software developed by Conair to maximize flexibility in adapting to current and future customer application needs. It is available on both the D and dX Series dryers in two configurations: the DC-C Plus package features a 4-inch touchscreen user interface, while the DC-C Premium offers a 7-inch screen.

Both configurations share a common HMI layout, making them easy for processors to learn, regardless of dryer size. Both offer dew-point monitoring and control, energy-use reporting, heater on-time trending and predictive maintenance as standard features. Premium units add additional energy-saving features, including Temperature Setback, which automatically adjusts drying air input temperatures to avoid overheating, and an optional Drying Monitor™, which utilizes RTD sensors in the hopper to confirm that proper drying conditions are maintained. Premium units also offer remote access and control capabilities and enhanced monitoring and alarm functions.

Both control configurations offer built-in loader options as well. The Plus configuration includes options for one loader, the Premium for two, typically with the first loader option used for the processing machine and the second serving the dryer hopper. Dryers supplied as part of dX Series mobile drying/conveying systems include a stainless-steel hopper, conveying blower, dust collector and direct-feed vacuum receiver – all assembled on a safe, convenient wheeled cart. Loaders can be supplied with a sensor to confirm resin fill levels, a ratio valve for loading two materials (typically a regrind and a virgin) into the dryer, and a choice of long- or short-distance conveying blowers.

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