GEA : increases efficiency of vital wheat gluten producers

The original dryers were protected by safety bursting panels to provide a fail-safe release in the event of an explosion within the dryer. At the time, this was the only type of explosion protection that had been given ATEX type approval. However, this type of safety panel is inherently susceptible to failure caused by heat and pressure distortion or vibration, resulting in the dryer needing to be shut down for repairs. When BioWanze upgraded the dryers by increasing airflow and capacity in 2017, failure frequency increased.

During a planned two-week maintenance shutdown in March 2020, GEA replaced the panels with new GEA CERTEX® explosion vent doors. These are not vulnerable to deformation caused by heat or pressure fluctuations or to vibration. If a door is activated, it does not need to be replaced but can be reset using a relatively simple sacrificial tab. Since fitting the CERTEX® explosion vent doors, BioWanze has had no further incidents of vent failure, allowing production to continue unhindered. This has significantly reduced downtime and maintenance costs. The new doors are now fitted as standard on all GEA ring dryers.