Vacuum drying technology
Pegaso Industries & PET Solutions, PRSE 2025 – Booth B95
PET Solutions, part of Pegaso Industries, will be showcasing its latest innovations in PET and rPET processing technologies. PET Solutions will present its DRV vacuum dryer technology which has been selected as a finalist in the Plastic Recycling Awards Europe 2025 in the category Recycling Machinery Innovation of the Year.
The DRV (dryer with continuous vacuum flow) is a patented technology that is claimed to set itself apart from traditional drying systems through continuous processing, eliminating the batch-to-batch interruptions found in competitor systems. Unlike batch systems that cause fluctuations in temperature and moisture, affecting the plastification process in injection moulding, the DRV ensures stable and consistent processing conditions, says PET Solutions.
The DRV dryer processes both crystalline and amorphous PET/rPET, which eliminates the need for an external crystalliser. Thanks to its four-hopper system, the DRV allows changeovers in just 1.5 hours, minimising machine stoppages and increasing productivity. The four hoppers can be arranged in different configurations to fit any production layout, making the DRV an adaptable solution in the vacuum drying segment. The DRV integrates seamlessly with leading injection moulding OEMs, adjusting process parameters automatically using a self-learning algorithm.
In recycling applications, oil condensers are typically required to remove volatile substances, consuming large amounts of chilled water and energy. The DRV has been designed to eliminate the need for an oil condenser, as all volatile substances are removed via the vacuum system and collected in a dedicated tank. Unlike conventional dryers, the DRV does not require desiccant/molecular sieves, water exchangers, or regeneration filters, drastically reducing maintenance time and costs.
The DRV Dryer is designed with four dedicated hoppers, each serving a specific role in the drying process:
- Pre-heating phase (Hopper 1): Removes surface moisture from the resin at 100 °C using a controlled hot air flow.
- Heating phase (Hopper 2): Gradually increases the resin temperature to 140 °C in a closed-loop system.
- Vacuum phase (Hopper 3): Extracts residual moisture down to levels below 40 ppm using vacuum technology.
- Booster heating phase (Hopper 4): Raises the resin temperature to 170 °C, ensuring optimal conditions before processing.
The DRV Dryer maintains precise temperature control through a system of temperature probes positioned at critical points within each hopper. These probes continuously monitor both material and air temperatures, preventing overheating and resin degradation.