What do a bag of chips, a frozen pizza, and a piece of paper have in common? They are products that require industrial drying, a critical piece of the manufacturing process that is also a major drain on energy: in the United States, industrial drying consumes approximately 12% of the total end-use energy used in manufacturing and about 1.2% of the total energy consumed. Estimates indicate some 40% of this energy use can be saved via new and innovative drying technologies.
To support such research and innovation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will host the 22nd International Drying Symposium (IDS 2022) from June 26-29, convening more than 200 participants, both in person and online, representing government agencies, industry, and academia. The symposium will also feature the presentation of high-quality technical papers from experts around the world.
This is the first time the IDS has been held in the United States since 1986. As a member of the Center for Advanced Research and Drying (CARD), a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry University Cooperative Research Center, WPI has emerged as a leading research university in this field.
“IDS provides a platform for the researchers from across the globe to gather to explore novel energy-efficient drying technologies pertinent to energy-intensive manufacturing industry sectors,” said Jamal Yagoobi, IDS Chair and WPI’s George I. Alden Professor and Head of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department. “This research can have a significant impact on reducing the carbon footprint associated with industrial drying processes.”
WHAT: International Drying Symposium 2022
WHERE: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Mass.
Remote option available. Zoom link available upon request.
WHO: Speakers from industry, government, and academia
WHEN: June 26-29, 2022
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
Monday, June 27
Keynotes from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
-Keith Jamison, Technology Manager, U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Office
-Hongda Chen, National Program Leader, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture (virtual)
Tuesday, June 28
Keynote from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
-Dr. Sheyla Ramsay, R&D Director Baking & Dehydration, PepsiCo Global Process Function, PepsiCo, Inc.
4:30-5:30 p.m.
-Tour of the New England Hub for Advanced Manufacturing at WPI (15 Sagamore Road) where a 30-foot long industrial
smart dryer/oven is being installed.
