heater(28)is supplied from the cooling air wall jacket supplemented by atmospheric air intake, The location of the atomiser within the roof air disperser creates optimum spray /air contact conditions, Moisture evaporation is rapid but controlled Product settles out of the air-flow on the chamber wall, building up to loose layers(15-25mm thickness) before breaking away and falling as nodules to the base ofthe chamber. The build-up is important forcompletion of evaporation. For the removal of the remaining moisture from a tomato particle, much resistance to mass transfer is apparent. The necessary long second period of drying is accomplished by the residence time on the cooled would result. 15-20 percent of the throughput does not settle on the walland passes out of the chamber with the exhausted drying air. The entrained product is recovered in a cyclone, and conveyed from the cyclone base in dehumidified air The bulk of the production falls from the chamber base into an enclosed band conveyor (36). Cool dehumidified air flows counter-currently slowly over the surface, and the product nodules are cooled on the conveyor Atatemperatureof24-30C, the nodules become brittle, and readily shatter into powder as they fall from the conveyor on to a sieve(39). This conveyor exit and sieve are installed within an air conditioned packing room kept at a low humidity. The plant under review dehumidified this area to 30 percent RH, with the temperature at 15C nsome plants this dehumidified area is treated with sodium fluorate, which is introduced into the air flow to provide a sterile atmosphere Final moisture of the powder is 3 to 3. 5 percent, and to maintain this low level in a hygroscopic material, it is preferably packed in nitrogen-flushed sealed polyethylene-lined drums or tins. Whatever container is used it must be air and moistureproof. Atmospheric packing in very dry air conditions was ised at the factory visited but this is recommended only fo storage periods. Anticaking dessicants can also be used, in the form of silica gel envelopes placed in each pack Overall Ratio: range from 20: 1 to 22: 1(Raw material to powder) Whilst the drying plant was equipped to process from 5kg cans of concentrate, a more economical method of packing of the concentrate by the asceptic 225 litre barrels. These are filled at the concentrate plant by flash sterilising the paste at 95C, cooling to 40C and filling into presterilised barrels underreduced pressure. A vacuum is drawn through a 20mm aperture in the top, and filling is through a second 50mmheater (28) is supplied from the cooling air wall jacket supplemented by atmospheric air intake. The location of the atomiser within the roof air disperser creates optimum spray/air contact conditions. Moisture evaporation is rapid but controlled. Product settles out of the air-flow on the chamber wall, building up to loose layers (15 - 25mm thickness) before breaking away and falling as nodules to the base of the chamber. The build-up is important for completion of evaporation. For the removal of the remaining moisture from a tomato particle, much resistance to mass transfer is apparent. The necessary long second period of drying is accomplished by the residence timeon the cooled wall. Increased drying temperatures cannot be used as heat degradation wouldresult.15-20percentof the throughputdoesnot settleon thewalland passes out of the chamber with the exhausted drying air. The entrained product is recovered in a cyclone, and conveyed from the cyclone base in dehumidified air. The bulk of the production falls from the chamber base into an enclosed band conveyor (36). Cool dehumidified air flows counter-currently slowly over the surface, and the product nodules are cooled on the conveyor. Ata temperatureof24"-3OoC, the nodules become brittle,and readily shatter into powder as they fall from the conveyor on to a sieve (39). This conveyor exit and sieve are installed within an air conditioned packing room kept at a low humidity. The plant under review dehumidified this area to 30 percent RH, with the temperature at 15°C. Insome plants this dehumidified area is treated with sodium fluorate, which is introduced into the air flow to provide a sterile atmosphere. Finalmoistureof the powder is3 to3.5 percent, and to maintain this low level in a hygroscopic material, it is preferably packed in nitrogen-flushed sealed polyethylene-lined drums or tins. Whatever container is used it must be air and moistureproof. Atmospheric packing in very dry air conditions was practised at the factory visited but this is recommended only for limited storage periods. Anticaking dessicants can also be used, in the form of silica gel envelopes placed in each pack. Overall Ratio: range from 20:l to 22:l (Raw material to powder) Whilst the drying plant was equipped to process from 5kg cans of concentrate, a more economical method of packing of the concentrate by the supplier would be in asceptic 225 litre barrels. These are filled at the concentrate plant by flash sterilising the paste at 95"C, cooling to 40°C and filling intopresterilised barrels under reduced pressure. A vacuum is drawn through a 20mm aperture in the top, and filling is through a second 50mm 196