Apparatus and method for spray drying

A spray drier that uses a removable liner to reduce the problem of electrically charged liquid, particles can adhere to and build up on the walls of the drying chamber, requiring time consuming cleanup which interrupts the use of the system. An electrostatic spray drying system for drying liquid into powder comprising: an elongated structural body supported in upright position; an upper end closure arrangement and a lower end closure arrangement at opposite upper and lower ends of the elongated body, respectively for forming a drying chamber within said elongated body; a non-structural non-metallic liner disposed within said elongated body in spaced relation to an inner wall surface of the elongated body for defining an internal drying zone within said elongated body; one of said upper end closure arrangement and lower end closure arrangement including a drying gas inlet for coupling to a drying gas source and for directing drying gas into said drying zone; an electrostatic spray nozzle assembly supported in one of the closure arrangements; said electrostatic spray nozzle assembly including a nozzle body having a discharge spray tip assembly at a downstream end thereof for directing liquid to be dried into said drying zone; said electrostatic spray nozzle assembly having a liquid inlet for coupling to a supply of liquid to be discharged into the drying zone and an electrode for coupling to an electrical source for electrically charging liquid passing through said spray nozzle assembly for discharge from said discharge spray tip assembly into said drying zone; and a circumferentially disposed support for releasably supporting said liner within said elongated body and for enabling selective removal and replacement of the liner following usage of the electrostatic spray drying system.