Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for processing hot, humid air resulting from an industrial process, such as paper production. These systems and methods allow a large amount of water to be recovered from the air and the plume emitted into the environment to be reduced, all with reasonable energy consumption. The exhaust stream of air is passed through two heat exchangers, which cool the exhaust air by heating respective streams of water. The heated streams of water are routed to and cooled by an absorption cooler before being returned as input to the heat exchangers. Some embodiments may also include a scrubber, which allows direct air-water contact, positioned between the two heat exchangers. The scrubber also aids removal of pollutants. Some embodiments may mix heated outside air with the exhaust stream of air prior to discharge in order to reduce the emitted plume.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the visibility of a plume created at the outlet of an industrial process, where the industrial process expels hot, humid air into the outside air through an output area of an outlet and, as a result of the expelled air A coming into contact with the outside air E, a visible plume might otherwise be created. The method includes the steps of having an auxiliary air that is dryer than the process air and hotter than the outside air available and combining this auxiliary air with the hot, humid process air such that the auxiliary air forms a protective, insulating or sheathing layer of air around the process air. This combination of the process air with the auxiliary are is carried out after (i.e., downstream from) an extraction process or processes of the industrial process and in the atmosphere generally adjacent to the output area of the process outlet.

Abstract: A conveyor oven is described. The conveyor oven includes a frame made of load-bearing structural members. The conveyor oven has a modular construction, with the structural members defining a rectangular prism. Blocks of insulation are placed in the frame openings, and a flexible insulating material, such as a multi-layer insulating textile, is used to cover joints between adjacent modules. Along the length of the conveyor oven, idler rollers that support the conveyor belt have ends that penetrate the sides of the oven and are supported such that the rollers can shift as the oven expands and contracts without creating openings for heat or air leakage. Air flow within the oven is managed using sets of adjustable baffle plates above and below the conveyor belt.