Food drying - fruit, vegetables, herbs, seafood, and pet food - demands strict hygiene and low-to-moderate temperatures to protect nutrients, color, and flavor. It is also one of the most moisture-intensive drying applications, which makes heat recovery especially valuable.
Enthalpy recovery wheels are preferred here because they recover both heat and moisture, lowering the dehumidification load on the dryer's refrigeration or desiccant stage. Returning some humidity to the inlet air can ease the early drying phase and protect product surface quality.
All air-contacting surfaces must be food-grade stainless steel, cleanable, and the wheel coating must resist sugars and salts. Periodic clean-in-place (CIP) is required to prevent bacterial growth and taint transfer between batches.
Control relative humidity and temperature to the product's drying curve, use a bypass during the high-moisture initial phase, and validate cleaning to avoid cross-contamination. Expect 25-45% energy savings alongside better product uniformity and food safety.