Starch Drying Case

I.Project Background

Starch is a key raw material in the food and chemical industries, and its drying process directly impacts finished product quality and production efficiency. Traditional coal-fired or electric heating drying methods consume high energy, have unstable temperature control, and are prone to causing starch to char or clump. To improve drying quality and reduce operating costs, Mr. Guo from Shanxi Province introduced a 7P air-source heat pump drying room. This room utilizes 600×800mm trays and a leak-proof stainless steel chassis, achieving efficient, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly starch drying.

II. Customer Requirements

Energy Saving and Consumption Reduction: Avoid the high energy consumption of traditional coal-fired or electric heating methods and reduce production costs.

Preventing Leakage and Pollution: Starch particles are small, requiring leak prevention to ensure a clean drying environment.

Uniform Drying: Avoid localized overheating that can cause starch gelatinization or clumping, and ensure a guaranteed finished product moisture content (≤13%).

Batch Production: Process 2 tons of wet starch in a single batch, meeting the company’s large-scale production needs.

III. Solution

1.Equipment Configuration

Heat Source System: 7P Air-to-Air Heat Pump (Heating Capacity ≥ 21kW, COP ≥ 3.2)

Drying Room Specifications: Customized insulated room with multi-layer stainless steel racks

Drying Trays: 600×800mm food-grade plastic trays with a 304 stainless steel leak-proof bottom tray

Control System: Intelligent PLC temperature and humidity control, supporting multi-stage drying modes

2.Drying Process

Phase 1 (Preheating and Dehumidification): 40°C ± 2°C, 1 hour to remove surface moisture.

Phase 2 (Constant Temperature Drying): Raise the temperature to 50°C ± 2°C, 8-10 hours to achieve uniform dehydration.

Phase 3 (Cooling and Humidification): Cool to 45°C, 1 hour to balance the moisture content of the starch.

Total Drying Time: 10-12 hours (traditional air drying or coal-fired drying requires over 24 hours).

3.Leak-proof Design

A 304 stainless steel mesh base is installed at the bottom of the tray to prevent starch granules from leaking and reduce waste.

A circulating and uniform air system is used inside the drying room to prevent localized high temperatures from causing starch charring.

IV.Operational Performance

Energy Savings and High Efficiency: Compared to electric drying, energy savings are over 50%, and the cost per ton of starch drying is reduced by approximately 30%.

Stable Quality: The finished starch product is free of lumps and burns, and its moisture content meets the standard (≤13%).

Increased Capacity: 2 tons of wet starch can be dried in a single batch, meeting the production needs of Mr. Guo’s individual business.

Environmental Compliance: No coal-fired exhaust emissions are generated, meeting food safety production standards.

V.Customer Feedback

Customers are very satisfied with the energy efficiency and leak-proof design of the air-source heat pump drying room, particularly the stainless steel base, which effectively reduces starch loss. Future plans include expanding this solution to processing potato and cassava starch.

This case demonstrates the advantages of air-source heat pumps in starch drying, balancing energy conservation, environmental protection, and efficient production, providing an intelligent and sustainable drying solution for the starch processing industry.