Solex Thermal Science > Solex Products > SIGMA 400 Cooler > How It Works > Fertilizer

Sigma400 Series Bulk Solids Cooler

1 SLOW & CONTROLLED PRODUCT FLOW
Fertilizer granules pass slowly downward between a series of vertical hollow heat exchange plates.
Why It's Better

2 INDIRECT PLATE COOLING
Cooling water flows through the plates to cool the material by conduction.
Why It's Better

3 MASS FLOW TECHNOLOGY
The mass flow discharge feeder creates uniform product velocity through the heat exchanger and regulates the product flow rate.
Why It's Better

4 VERTICAL CONFIGURATION 
Fertilizer granules pass through the vertical heat exchanger by gravity.
Why It's Better

Sigma 400: How It Works

Why It's Better

The slow and controlled movement of fertilizer through the heat exchanger produces a superior final product. It prevents product abrasion and degradation ensuring that the product characteristics are not changed in the heat exchange process. The low velocity of the product also makes this design suitable for handling abrasive materials.

Why It's Better

Fertilizer Energy ChartThe indirect plate heat exchanger design means air is not used in the cooling or heating process. This design is superior and results in many important benefits for cooling and heating fertilizers.

  • It is ultra efficient, using up to 90% less energy than technologies requiring the use of air.
  • Emissions, dust, fines and odors are eliminated because air is not used to directly cool or heat the product.
  • Installed capital costs are reduced due to the elimination of costly and unnecessary air handling equipment such as large diameter air ducting, motors, fans, scrubbers, chillers, and emissions controls.
  • A superior final product is produced. Since air is not in contact with the product, risk of product moisture content changes are eliminated.     
  • The plates are configured to enable easy access for inspection and cleaning. The design makes it possible for single plates to be isolated or replaced.
  • Low volumes of dry purge air can be used to prevent condensation in humid climates, which eliminates the potential for product caking.
  • Fertilizer can be efficiently cooled to within approximately 10°C of cooling water temperature, which enables lower product storage temperatures

Why It's Better

Mass flow design means the fertilizer moves with uniform velocity through the heat exchanger. This feature, combined with long residence times (typically 5-10 minutes), enables even temperature distribution as the product passes through the heat exchanger, producing remarkably stable and uniform final fertilizer temperatures.

Why It's Better

Why It's Better

Solex FootprintThe vertical configuration makes this design both compact and modular.

  • The compact installation footprint makes this design easy to integrate into existing plants and is ideal for de-bottlenecking, revamps and capacity increase.
  • The clever modular design means that additional heat exchanger plate banks can be stacked if increased thermal capacity is required in the future