PROCESS FOR PRODUCING GRANULATE BY SPRAY GRANULATION IN FLUIDIZED BED AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME

PCT No. PCT/EP96/01453 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 26, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 26, 1997 PCT Filed Apr. 3, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/33009 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 24, 1996This invention relates to a process for the production of granulates by fluidized bed spray granulation and to a device for this purpose. Liquid starting materials may be converted into granulates by fluidized bed spray granulation. In order to ensure elevated material throughput, numerous nozzles, which are moreover susceptible to plugging and encrustation, must be installed. The disadvantages of known processes may be overcome according to the invention by arranging at least two spray nozzles at least partially directed towards each other in such a manner and the quantity of spray is adjusted in such a manner that their spray jets collide within the fluidized bed and substantially no liquid strike-through occurs onto a surface delimiting the fluidized bed or out of the fluidized bed. The spray jets of two spray nozzles directed towards each other collide frontally or enclose an angle of less than 180 DEG ; the angle is preferably between 150 DEG and 180 DEG . The device according to the invention comprises a flow channel (1) with laterally arranged spray nozzles (8), wherein in each case two exactly opposing or staggered spray nozzles are oriented in such a manner that the spray jets collide within the fluidized bed. Sodium percarbonate production is exemplfied.