ABSTRACT
Although the concept was originally proposed over
100 years ago and the first industrial applications
were reported some 60 years ago in Germany, super-
heated steam drying has emerged only in the past
decade or so as a viable new technology with immense
potential. Essentially, superheated steam drying (SSD)
involves the use of superheated steam in a direct
(convective) dryer in place of hot air, combustion, or
flue gases as the drying medium to supply heat for
drying and to carry off the evaporated moisture. Any
direct or direct and indirect (e.g., combined convection
and conduction) dryer can be operated as an SSD, in
principle. The technology involved is more complex
and hence this conversion is not simple. Additional
criteria must be considered when selecting a dryer for
SSD operation.
