Abstract: An agglomerated powdery milk product is prepared by spraying a concentrate of milk or a fraction thereof into a stream of drying gas directed against the surface of a fluidized layer of already spray dried particles in a conical chamber, thereby obtaining a favorable interaction. Special parameters including temperatures, rates of streams of drying air and residence time are adjusted to obtain an extensively agglomerated product, high production capacity, improved heat economy, low heat damage of the product, and to make possible an easy spray drying of materials, which have hitherto been regarded as unsuitable for spray drying.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for processing a powdered or particulate product forming a vibrating fluidized bed supported by a thin, perforated bed plate which is vibrated while gas is blown upwardly through the perforations of the plate.The bed plate which is made from thin sheet metal is provided with parallel corrugations extending transversely to the direction in which the fluidized product is moved along the plate. The corrugations impart a desired stiffness to the plate and in order to promote removal of residual product from the plate when supply of product to the plate has been terminated, the openings in the plate may be formed so as to direct gas flows supplied therethrough in the same general direction transverse to said corrugations towards an outlet of the apparatus.

Abstract: Milk or similar liquids are spray dried using a rotary atomizer wheel whereby such a temperature is imparted to the liquid that a violent release of gas and vapor from the liquid takes place in the atomizer wheel, which gas and vapor are removed before the atomization of the liquid. By these means a powder having at high bulk density and a low content of occluded air is obtained. A special atomizer wheel, having two sets of ejection apertures and two intercommunicating supply compartments makes it possible to eject released gas and vapor through one set of apertures and liquid through the other set, whereby reintroduction in the liquid of the released air is prevented. Also an atomizer wheel of this type is provided wherein the two supply compartments are steam-swept.