Abstract: System for drying a damp biofuel, includes a boiler (1) for combustion of the fuel. Further, the system includes a first heat drying chamber (2), a drying gas flow (3) heated by the thermal energy of the combustion gases from the boiler and/or by steam, the gas flow being passed into the first heat drying chamber, and a fuel supply (4) for passing the fuel into the first heat drying chamber. The system includes a second heat drying chamber (5), an intermediate heating unit (6) for heating the drying gas flow before the second heat drying chamber, an intermediate supply (7) for passing the fuel from the first heat drying chamber into the second heat drying chamber, a boiler supply (8) for passing the fuel from the final heat drying chamber into the boiler and an outlet (9) for passing the flow of drying gas from the final heat drying chamber into the boiler.

Abstract: A single pass, multiple stage, rotary drum heat exchange dryer (22) is provided for drying products such as distillers grains and includes a tubular shell (64) with a moist product inlet (66), an opposed dried product outlet (70), and an internal drying chamber (78). The chamber (78) includes a convection drying first stage (80), and conductive drying final curing stage (82) an intermediate stage (84); the stage (84) is subdivided into a plurality of preferably contiguous drying zones (86-92). The zones (86-92) include individual flighting assemblies (164, 214, 226, 234) which are of increasing density and present progressively increasing heat transfer ratios. Preferably, one of the initial zones has a heat transfer ratio of from about 1.5-2.5 ft−1, whereas another of the zones closer to the final stage has a heat transfer of from about 2.75-3.75 ft−1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an incinerator with a ceramics filter for incinerating raw refuse, general garbage, expanded polystyrene and others generated from a manufacturing plant, a wholesale market, a general firm, a general retail store, a general house and others. According to the present invention, air intakes having a check valve provided thereto are formed to right and left lower portions of an incinerator; an oast is set in a combustion chamber; a tabular ceramics filter for removing a harmful substance is attached to the upper portion of the oast; and a suction port is formed to the upper portion of the tabular ceramics filter.

Abstract: A clothes dryer adapter. The adapter includes (a) a first cylindrical portion with a generally cylindrical tubular segment having a first longitudinal axis, a inlet portion, an inlet end cap located at an effective inlet end, and an outlet end, and (b) a second cylindrical portion interfittingly engaging the first cylindrical portion for rotatable adjustment with respect thereto. the second cylindrical portion is similar to the first cylindrical portion, and has an inlet end, an outlet end cap located at an effective outlet end, and an outlet portion for discharge of hot dryer exhaust air therefrom. The two portions are rotatably adjustable, before assembly, but sized and shaped for interfitting mating engagement to form a sturdy, sealable dryer vent when fully assembled, having an inlet portion and an outlet portion with parallel but offset longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A device for absorbing or blotting grease from the surface of foods such as pizza comprising a support member having a handle for manually gripping the device and an absorbent or oligiophilic pad attached to such support member for blotting the surface of a food item.

Abstract: The cyclone heat exchanger according to the invention comprises a set of cyclones for preheating powdered raw material. The set of cyclones is divided into a high temperature part (1) and a low temperature part (2) mutually interconnected by a tube (4) with a return loop (40) which is located below the lever of lower cyclone (21) of low temperature part (2). The powdered raw material is transferred from the low temperature part (2) to the high temperature part (1) by means of a transport tube (50), fed with hot transporting gas. The high temperature part (1) and the low temperature part (2) are located in such a way, that the connection of the warm gas input (130) of the highest cyclone (13) of high temperature part (1) is located above the connection of warm gas input (210) of lower cyclone (21).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for spin drying substrates in a spin dryer tank. A spin dryer cover is movable between a closed position to close an opening of the spin dryer tank and an open position to open the spin dryer tank, and a cylinder is coupled with the spin dryer cover. The cylinder is movable in a first operation to move the spin dryer cover to the open position and movable in a second operation to move the spin dryer cover to the closed position. A system for sensing the position of the spin dryer cover comprises a cylinder sensor configured to sense the first operation and the second operation of the cylinder. A cover sensor is configured to sense the position of the spin dryer cover. A logic circuit is configured to output a cover opening signal indicating that the spin dryer cover is in the open position when the cylinder sensor senses the first operation of the cylinder and the cover sensor senses that the spin dryer cover is in the open position.

Abstract: The furnace body uses a crucible as the innermost layer thereof to reduce wearing of furnace materials and achieve downsizing of the furnace body; the crucible is made into the form of a cartridge so as to fully facilitate replacement thereof; a mixture of a petroleum gas such as propane and butane and an oxygen gas or air is used mainly as a fuel, which is subjected to complete combustion to ensure complete combustion of the fuel, as well as, sufficient temperature control; and an arrangement is employed for contriving arrangement of the burner, the ash charge port, and other elements so as to improve heat efficiency, thus facilitating temperature control in the furnace, reducing wearing of the furnace body and facilitating repair of the furnace.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead is disclosed having an inner lumen adapted to receive a stiffening member, and which is further adapted to deliver fluoro-visible media while the stiffening member is located within the inner lumen. According to one aspect of the invention, the stiffening member is a guide wire having an inner lumen. The inner lumen of the guide wire is used to deliver the contrast medium while the guide wire is in place within the lumen of the lead. In another embodiment, a stiffening member that is sized to occupy only a portion of the lumen of the lead is utilized. The non-occupied portion of the lumen is sized to be large enough to allow for the passage of fluoro-visible medium from an injection port at the proximal end of the lead to a delivery port at the distal end of the lead. According to one aspect of the invention, the lead includes a sealable member located at the distal end of the lumen of the lead to prevent the ingress of bodily fluids within this lead lumen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impingement of fluid onto a moving surface. The apparatus includes an asymmetric slot nozzle having an opening formed between an upstream wall and a downstream wall. The nozzle is disposed generally adjacent the surface onto which the fluid is to be impinged forming an impingement distance between each of the walls of the nozzle and the surface. The impingement distance of the upstream wall is greater than the impingement distance of the downstream wall such that at least a portion of the fluid is delivered through the nozzle in a direction that is counter to the machine direction.

Abstract: Apparatus, method and system for the treatment of a wafer. After a treatment at elevated temperature, a wafer is taken out of the reactor in question with the help of a mechanical transport apparatus which preferably grips the wafer around the circumference and on the under side and consists of a wafer surrounding ring. The wafer is then placed in a floating wafer reactor where it is cooled in a controlled manner. Transport for further action or treatment then takes place.

Abstract: A manure processing apparatus is defined which has a processing bin and a plurality of augers, with the augers arranged vertically and adapted to move back and forth along the length and width of the processing bin. The apparatus further comprises an air conditioning system to compost the manure and to dry the manure to produce feed.

Abstract: A conditioning apparatus for conditioning a treated fluid includes a conditioning chamber for containing a flow of a treated fluid and an exchange element disposed within said conditioning chamber having one or more fluid passages formed therein filled with a saline solution. The exchange element has a semi-permeable membrane that allows fluid transfer between said treated fluid and said saline solution through said semi-permeable membrane.

Abstract: A blower for a high efficiency furnace is provided with an increased interior space for accommodating an impeller of maximum practicable diameter. The blower includes a blower motor and a blower housing having a bottom piece and a top piece assembling with the bottom piece to define an interior of the blower housing. The top piece includes an annular lower support portion for supporting the blower motor and an annular upper portion extending above and around the lower portion. The upper portion has an outer peripheral edge and lugs extending outward beyond the outer peripheral edge. The lugs have lug holes to receive mechanical fasteners to secure the blower housing to an external device. The head of the mechanical fasteners are positioned above the lugs on the upper portion of the top piece. In this arrangement the diameter of the bottom piece is not limited by a need to accommodate spacing for the head of the mechanical fastener.

Abstract: A vapor collection method and apparatus capable of capturing vapor compositions without substantial dilution. The method and apparatus utilize a material that has a surface with an adjacent gas phase. A chamber is positioned in close proximity to a surface of the material. The position of the chamber creates a relatively small gap between the surface of the material and the chamber. The adjacent gas phase between the chamber and the surface define a region possessing an amount of mass. At least a portion of the mass is drawn through the region by induced flow. The utilization of a small gap limits the flow of mass that is external to the chamber from being swept through the chamber by induced flow.

Abstract: A system and method for treating, injecting and co-combusting sludge in a municipal waste or other solid fuel combustor. The system includes a sludge receiving and treatment module and a sludge injection and combustion module. The sludge is received and stored in one or more storage hoppers where its moisture content is monitored and varied to obtain a sludge having a desired moisture content. The treated sludge is then pumped to a furnace injection nozzle where it is preferably atomized with steam and sprayed into the combustion zone of the furnace. Improved odor control in sludge handling is also provided by a storage tank and a sludge tanker trailer each having an air diffuser for mixing and aerating the sludge and a filter system for filtering odors.

Abstract: A clothes dryer vent system is designed for hollow walls framed with scantling and covered with sheathing secured to the scantling, the walls having a hollow interior space that is uniformly, at least about 3½ inches wide. The vent system includes a rough-in box for recessed mounting within a hollow wall, the rough-in box having a substantially planar rear panel, side panels and nonparallel top and bottom panels, the side panels and the top and bottom panels intersecting and unitary with the rear panel, each side panel intersecting and unitary with both top and bottom panels, the rough-in box also having a depth no greater than about 4 inches, and a stub connector pipe affixed within the top panel, the stub connector pipe having a lower portion of oval-shaped cross section within the box that is couplable to a flexible dryer vent hose and an upper portion outside the box directly couplable to an oblong vent pipe having a minor cross-sectional dimension no greater than about 2 inches.

Abstract: A thermo-oxidizer evaporator is provided with a combustion chamber, burners, and waste water injection system. The waste water injection system is preferably adapted to atomize the waste water stream. The waste water is injected near the flame from the burners so as to evaporate water in the waste water stream and combust contaminants in the waste water stream. The water leaves the combustion chamber as vapor, and contaminants collect at the bottom of the combustion chamber as dry ash. Heat exchange apparatus heats air prior to injection into the combustion chamber. A temperature controller controls fuel and air flow into the combustion chamber. Baffles in the combustion chamber increase the residence time to facilitate the settling of solid constituents from the gas stream leaving the combustion chamber. Methods for treating liquid wastes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for controlling differential shrinkage during drying of ceramic honeycomb substrates by heating the ceramic honeycomb substrate with a vapor-insulating guard disposed substantially about the ceramic honeycomb substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying a product comprising placing the product on a first side of a support surface, and directing dry radiant heat toward the second side of the surface to heat the product. A sensor can be included to measure at least one characteristic of the product, such as the temperature or moisture content thereof. The temperature of the heat source can be regulated as a function of the measured characteristic. The support surface can also be made so as to be movable relative to the heat source. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of control zones are defined and through which the product is successively passed. Each of the control zones has at least one associated heat source and an associated sensor so as to regulate the temperature of the heat sources associated with each control zone independently of those associated with another zone.