Hatchery Tray Drying

After the washing process, hatchery trays are normally stacked to dry, often for more than 24 hours. The compact, low horsepower, low noise, Air Knife Drying System dries the top, bottom and sides of hatchery trays enough to allow the paper liners to be installed and trays reused immediately after washing. Systems from 15 to 30 horsepower utilize high velocity low volume air (up to 1200 cfm) to dry better and faster than compressed air systems of up to 70 horsepower.

The first stage of drying is a double bank of high velocity jet nozzles aimed to impact and release water from hard to reach areas. The second and third stages rely on highly efficient air knives with velocities up to 35,000 feet per minute. A knife edge curtain on all sides prevents the water droplets from passing. If viewed in slow motion, one drop is pushed back to join another and another until the weight of the large drop exceeds its ability to stick to the tray (surface adhesion). The mass is now pushed off, much like an invisible squeegee, not one drop at a time but as a wave.

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