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 a method for spray drying perishable liquid products such as milk products. The exhaust gas from the spray dryer is passed through a gas scrubber in which at least part of the liquid product to be dried is used as washing liquid before spraying it into the spray drying chamber of the spray dryer. Prior to passing it into the gas scrubber the washing liquid is heated to a pasteurizing temperature by suitable heating means. These heating means may, for example, be adapted to inject hot steam into the flow of washing liquid, or the heating means may be in the form of an evaporator connected to the spray dryer at the upstream side thereof.