Crystallization technology
Since 1924, today a GEA staple. Able to grow the largest crystals in a fluidized bed without mechanical circulation methods.
Invented by F. Jeremiassen of Krystall A/S in Oslo, Norway in 1924, it took the name of the city in which it was originally designed. It is also referred to as “growth-“, “fluid bed-“ and “Krystal-“ crystallizer.
GEA is Davy Powergas' and A.W. Bamforth's crystallization technology successor and as such, owns all the documentation of OSLO installations built by them. This background, added to GEA's own extensive experience, makes the primary designer of OSLO crystallizers of the world out of GEA.
The primary advantage of the OSLO Crystallizer until today is the ability to grow crystals in a fluidized bed, which is not subject to mechanical circulation methods. A crystal in an OSLO unit will grow unhindered to the size that its residence time in the fluid bed will allow.
The result is that an OSLO crystallizer will grow the largest crystals in comparison to other crystallizer types. The slurry is removed from the crystallizer's fluidized bed and sent to typical centrifugation sections. Clear liquor may also be purged from the crystallizer's clarification zone, if necessary.
The OSLO Crystallizer consists of five basic components:
In a similar way that with a DTB Crystallizer, a clarified solution containing fine crystals of a specific size, is withdrawn from the baffle zone. By superheating the solution within the external heat exchanger, the fines are dissolved. This superheating is relieved through the evaporation of a solvent which is either conduced to the subsequent process steps or is internally reused by applying a recompression system of choice.
The supersaturated solution is then guided down the draft tube, gently fluidizing a crystal bed where the supersaturation is relieved to the suspended crystals through crystal growth.
Simple in design and robust in operation. The working horse for industrial solution crystallization.
Available for product and feasibility trials with real samples and under real parameters. Either in GEA centers of excellence for crystallization or onsite thanks to our mobile units.
Process and mechanical innovation. Compact and Monoblock Forced Circulation Crystallizer.
Limited attrition and efficient fines destruction – a design to produce coarse crystals with a narrow size distribution.
Waste reduction is important to us at GEA, and by harnessing the power of freeze drying technology, we can transform surplus food into valuable, long-lasting products – helping to reduce waste, extend shelf life and build a more resilient food supply for generations to come.
When plant-forward South Korean food producer Pulmuone brought GEA the challenge of developing a modern spin on the traditional chewy cold (naengmyeon) noodle, GEA’s R&D experts were up to the challenge. They helped develop what is now a commercial hit produced with less water and electricity than previously existing methods. The result is also true to the traditional origins of the dish as well as Pulmuone’s health, well-being and sustainability roots.