Abstract: A control method for a granulating apparatus of the type in which a binder liquid is added to powder material having high moisture absorbing properties while fluidizing the powder material thereby producing granules or granular material of a desired particle size. In this control method, the moisture content of powder material to be granulated is continuously detected with a high degree of accuracy by a moisture content detector and in accordance with the detected value the rotation speed of a binder feed pump or the like is adjusted through a moisture content regulator thus varying for example the rate of addition of the binder and thereby controlling the moisture content of the powder material.

Abstract: In a horizontal fluidized-bed dryer, at least one rotatable hollow axle extends horizontally through a drying chamber over a porous supporting shelf and has a heat transfer tube assembly mounted on and around the hollow axle for fluid communication therewith. A spiral or screw-shaped blade is mounted on the heat transfer tube assembly so as to be disposed around the periphery of an imaginary cylindrical figure generated by rotation of the heat transfer tube assembly about the hollow axle. This blade serves to push large particles of wet feed on the supporting shelf from the inlet side to the outlet side as the hollow axle and thus the heat transfer tube assembly are rotated.