Unlocking the Potential of Hemp: Revolutionizing Agriculture and Medicine
The Resurgence of Hemp: From History to Modern Cash Crop
With the recent passing of the 2018 Farm Bill making the growth and processing of industrial hemp legal, there is an increase in farmers turning to hemp harvests as their new cash crop.
The hemp industry used to be a major part of America’s economy, with many early colonies requiring their settlers to grow and harvest hemp crops, with the hemp plant fibers used for rope, canvas for ship sails and clothing, and the oil used for lamps. Drafts of the Declaration of Independence were even written on hemp paper.
As the American hemp industry grew, new uses for hemp were found, such as the body of a Ford car, and the U.S. government initiated the ‘Hemp For Victory’ campaign during WWII to increase hemp production and processing due to the many uses the plant provided for wartime needs.
The Hemp Revolution: Hemp Drying and CBD Extraction
Modern hemp research has rediscovered the useful properties of hemp and incorporated hemp fibers into building products and all sorts of consumer goods. New uses for hemp biomass are being found every day.
Medically, hemp’s CBD oil has been shown to help with various ailments without being psychoactive, and many companies are offering CBD as an alternative medicine. In states where marijuana has been legalized, psychoactive cannabis is also being grown and processed.
With hemp harvesting and processing, it must be dried quickly before the hemp oil goes rancid, and water in the plant fibers causes decay. Hemp drying is an essential part of processing hemp, but the modern industry is still new, with research and development being performed to scale up hemp drying systems while still ensuring high-quality CBD oil extract and useful hemp biomass. Cannabis harvesting requires the flowers to be dried without damaging the trichomes or exceeding decarboxylation temperatures.
Carrier Vibrating Equipment has developed and tested options for your hemp and cannabis drying requirements.
Hemp & Cannabis Drying Brochure
Vibrating Fluid Bed Dryer
Carrier Vibrating Fluid Bed Dryers have been specially engineered for optimal hemp and cannabis drying. They are custom-designed for your specific requirements, whether you need to gently dehumidify cannabis harvests or thoroughly dry large amounts of agricultural hemp biomass.
A single vibratory fluid bed dryer can process material from the inlet moisture content down to the required moisture without needing a pre-drying system, eliminating extra steps and material handling in the hemp processing line.
The vibration aids in moving wet and sticky materials while fluidizing material to ensure even and consistent drying with no burnt hot spots or wet clumps. Large pieces of hemp material will continue moving through the machine without clogging or plugging, requiring maintenance, or causing quality control issues.
- Option to construct out of 304L stainless steel and to meet food-grade specifications
- Clean in place nozzle fittings available
- Low-pressure drop deck reduces fan horsepower requirements
- Laser cut hole pattern is engineered for uniform air distribution and efficient hemp movement and drying
- Hood designed to minimize hemp carryover to exhaust air system
- Dual-zone drying sections with independent air and temperature controls for drying flexibility to ensure an ideal and consistent end product. Optional cooling zone section to evaporatively cool hemp to prevent condensation after exiting.
- State-of-the-art, user-friendly touchscreen PLC system to control both air heaters to prevent temperature overshoots and to provide constant air volumes to each zone
- High-temperature insulation to reduce operating costs, able to be washed down or used outdoors
A baghouse dust collector is included to capture valuable fines and prevent emissions into the atmosphere.
Rotary Dryer
Our rotary dryers are designed and tested for hemp biomass harvesting and drying and are custom-built to your specific processing requirements. Wet product is fed into one end of the rotating tube and moves through with the help of lifting flights, which ensure even drying and prevent sticking and clumping. There is no need to use a pre-dryer before feeding, and the rotary hemp dryer can safely process a wide variety of material sizes, including large flowers and stems, eliminating the need to fine-chop the product first. The wet feed material can be dried down to 10% moisture.
Trouble-free, simple operation with a low-maintenance drive ensures consistent and reliable use. A co-current gas flow reduces the material’s exposure to high temperatures, keeping quality high and preventing scorching or burning of oils and plant material.
- Option for product contact surfaces to be constructed with 304L stainless steel
- State-of-the-art, user-friendly touchscreen PLC system controls the air heater to minimize temperature overshoots and provide constant air volume
- Disengagement chamber to minimize carryover into the exhaust air system
- Included baghouse dust collector to ensure fines are captured and prevented from escaping into the atmosphere
