subject: Dryer, Drying Method and Drying Paint [print this page] The container wall/s are preferably tapered inwardly towards the inlet and outlet. A tapered outlet assists in controlling the rate of discharge of the dried material. A tapered inlet enables the top of the bed of particulate material to form a mound. Preferably, the distance from the apex of the mound of particulate material to the uppermost gaseous openings is greater than the width of the particulate bed. Such a relationship enhances the effective ingress and egress of air through the gaseous openings rather than by leakage from the atmosphere through the open top of the mesh belt dryer. Leakage of air through the top of the particulate bed can be further reduced by biasing the pellet feed towards the air outlet side of the dryer. Preferably also particulate material being fed into the dryer does not need to drop more than about 3 metres, preferably not more than about 1 metre, to the apex of the mound of particulate material within the dryer. In this way fracturing and disintegration of the particulate material entering the dryer will be minimised.
