Heat Pump Based Condensation Drying
Gentle and Reliable Drying of Quinoa
A subcontract processor for premium quality nutritional supplements needed a drying system for the extraction of quinoa. He found heat pump based condensation drying to be the solution providing higher throughput, reproducible results, plus very high energy efficiency.
The subcontract processor was faced with the requirement to dry germinated quinoa in preparation for a subsequent extraction process. The ingredient extracted is further processed to become a dietary supplement and must be dried for this purpose. They had used a fan oven before which failed to provide the desired capability and reliability, and needed too much energy. So, the responsible project manager looked for a suitable alternative. He got a recommendation by a closely related company who had been using heat pump based condensation drying for years to dehumidify their apple rings and pomace. This low temperature process by the German company Harter saves much energy and carbon emission. This is the reason why German, Austrian, and Swiss operators of such drying systems may apply for government subsidy amounting to 40 percent of the acquisition cost. The specialised service contractor found the technology promising enough to contact Harter. The question was, of course, if the drying system manufacturer was able to meet the specifications by the prospective customer.