Abstract: A process for producing a carbonic acid diester, which comprises carrying out a reaction in a vapor phase of an alcohol, carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst in a fluidized-bed reactor so that an oxidative carbonylation of the alcohol occurs, thereby obtaining a carbonic acid diester, wherein a heat of reaction is removed by the latent heat of vaporization of the alcohol as a raw material. In the process, for example, either at least part of the alcohol may be directly fed in liquid phase into the fluidized bed or cooling pipes are disposed in the fluidized bed and at least part of the alcohol is introduced in liquid phase into the cooling pipes as a heat transfer medium so that the liquid alcohol is vaporized and fed into the fluidized-bed reactor. Carbon monoxide may be introduced together with the liquid alcohol into the cooling pipes.

Abstract: Particles of sand coated with oil are loaded into a housing (1). A fluidizing unit (3) is provided towards the bottom of the housing. The fluidizing unit fluidizes the particles and discharges them from the housing to a separator, such as one or more hydrocyclones (8, 14), in which the oil and sand particles are separated. The coated particles can be introduced in the housing (1) via a cyclonic separator (50, 52) which provides some preliminary separation.

Abstract: A spout-fluid bed drying system and process is comprised of a spout-fluid bed dryer having a conical shaped lower section provided with a packing of heat exchange particles. A cyclone separator is connected to the top of the dryer with separated particles collected by a receiver connected to the leg of the cyclone. A vapor fan compresses the air-vapor mixture before it goes to the heat recuperator and mixing chamber. A tube-shell type heat exchanger, wherein effluent gases from the vapor fan are preheated with heat exchange with the outcoming high temperature gases. A combustion and incineration chamber wherein a natural gas burner is installed at the top and the high temperature flame is used to incinerate the effluent gases introduced from the annulus channel of the chamber to have the odors and VOCs destroyed.

Abstract: System and method for treating toxic washwater from ink, paint, pesticides and the like. The wash water is heated to a temperature on the order of 100.degree. F. in a sump positioned beneath a bed of horse manure media containing aerobic fungi and bacteria. Washwater is foam lifted from the sump to a level above the media and allowed to filter down through the media. Hot dry air is blown into the media from the side to maintain the media at a temperature on the order of 100.degree. F. and thereby promote microbiological activity and evaporation of the water in the media. Warm moist air from the media is cooled to condense the moisture, and the condensed moisture is collected as distilled water. A prefilter removes excessive amounts of solids from the washwater before it is introduced into the sump, and a Carnot cycle system provides the necessary heating and cooling for the water, media and air.

Abstract: A method for the separation and recovery of volatiles from a sludge containing about 1 to 80% by weight liquid solvents and 20 to 99% by weight solids, in which said sludge is fed with a reagent powder material in an amount effective to form a mixture having a high surface area to a distillation vessel, said mixture is heated to a temperature up to about 350.degree. C. while said mixture is advanced through the vessel for a time sufficient to distil a sufficient portion of the solvents to yield a solid residue powder, distilled solvents are condensed, and the solid residue powder recovered. The vessel preferably is a mechanical fluidized bed distillation vessel and said mixture is fluidized while being heated therein under a partial vacuum in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The effective amount of reagent powder material includes about 5 to 70 wt % of the reagent powder material.

Abstract: The process of producing particulate, solid, pourable and free-flowing useful materials from water-containing preparations thereof by spray-drying in a hot gas stream under normal pressure wherein the hot gas stream is superheated steam, terminating the spray-drying of the materials before they are completely dry or damaged by heat effects, and then (a) mixing the spray-dried materials with an auxiliary component which is capable of binding residual quantities of water from the materials, or (b) further drying the spray-dried materials under conditions that will not damage the materials, or (c) post-treating the spray-dried materials in a manner as to homogenize the residual moisture in the materials.

Abstract: A low-cost, fluidized-bed drying process for the production of solidified alkaline earth salts is provided which is especially useful for the production of MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O from a starting brine nominally containing MgCl.sub.2.12H.sub.2 O. The process includes the steps of passing the starting brine into a drying chamber (12) and fluidizing the brine by contact with hot air for a period of from about 1-15 minutes while heating the brine to a maximum temperature of from about 200.degree.-275.degree. F. This creates a molten salt product, which can then be cooled using ambient air to yield the desired final product. Preferably, the brine is heated to a temperature of from about 230.degree.-250.degree. F., and is subjected to fluidizing contact with hot air for about 5-8 minutes. Ambient air cooling is accomplished by contacting the intermediate melt with ambient air for a period of from about 10 seconds to 3 minutes.

Abstract: A highly energy efficient process for removing hydrocarbons from polymer slurries is disclosed. The process includes feeding a hydrocarbon-containing polymer slurry to a flash tank to flash a portion of the hydrocarbon from the slurry. Thereafter, the resulting slurry is fed to a fluid bed dryer wherein additional hydrocarbon is stripped from the polymer. Subsequently, the resulting polymer powder is transferred to a powder silo wherein further hydrocarbon is removed from the polymer utilizing a heated purge gas flowing countercurrent to the polymer powder. The polymer output preferably has a low hydrocarbon content, on the order of 100 ppm or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spray-drying granulation apparatus having a chamber comprising (a) an upper section which is a spray-drying section for spraying a feed solution from a nozzle and drying the formed droplets with hot air and (b) a lower section which is a fluidized granulation section, in which apparatus there is used, as the nozzle for spraying a feed solution, a two-fluid pressure nozzle comprising a centrifugal pressure nozzle for spraying a feed solution and a cylindrical pipe for blowing out a high-speed gas, provided around the centrifugal pressure nozzle. This spray-drying granulation apparatus enables spraying of even a feed solution of large volume with only one nozzle. Further with the two-fluid pressure nozzle of the apparatus, there is no need of replacement of nozzle parts when the feed rate, concentration, viscosity, kind, etc.

Abstract: Distillers syrup or similar liquid solutions or suspensions of organic solids and oil and water is dried to obtain granular solids with improved syrup content by continuously spraying the syrup or liquid onto the upper surface of a previous bed of granular solids while passing air through the previous bed to dry the syrup from the bottom of the bed upwardly. The upper surface layer of the previous bed is maintained at near saturation temperature of the air entering the bottom of the bed due to the cooling effect of evaporation. The syrup or liquid is continuously mixed into the upper surface layer of the granular solids to significantly increase the dried syrup or liquid content. The bottom layer of the graular solids is continuously cut and continuously removed.

Abstract: A spray-drying granulation apparatus having: a spray drying section formed in an upper position of a chamber wherein sprayed feed liquid particles are dried to powder by a hot-air; and a powder granulation section formed in a power position of the chamber, and provided with a nozzle for feeding a binder liquid. There is no need of maintaining sticky powder or completely dried powder to the lower section. The sprayed particles can be dried to powder in a wide drying range before they are granulated in the granulation section by a binder liquid. The degree of granulation can be selected as desired while preventing attachment of powder to the inner wall of the chamber due to incomplete drying.

Abstract: In a container (12) a treatment space (14) for substance (16) is arranged, therebelow a wind chamber (22) and between the two a sieve bottom (80). Beneath the sieve bottom (80) a rotor (40) having a circular rotor disc (42) is arranged which is rotatably drivable about an upright central axis (A). The rotor (40) comprises at least one opening (44) which is elongated in approximately radial direction and which allows a gas stream (50) from the wind chamber (22) to pass through the sieve bottom (80) upwardly into the treatment space (14). The sieve bottom (80) comprises approximately radial blades (82) which are each arranged in an at least approximately vertical plane immediately above the rotor disc (42) in such a manner that they conduct the gas stream (50) in a sharply defined sector upwardly.

Abstract: An apparatus including an evaporator, a pre-crystallizer, a spray dryer and a fluid bed for drying whey and a rotating disc having a cone-shaped upper surface is provided for receiving partially dried whey from the spray dryer and delivering the whey to the fluid bed while permitting crystallization of the whey as it rests on the surface of the disc.

Abstract: To remove solvents such as alcohol from bulk material the solvent-laden bulk material is intensively loosened mechanically into a virtual fluidized bed through which a liquid in gaseous phase such as steam is passed so that the solvent having a lower boiling point than water is expelled from the bulk material and is evacuated with excess steam while at least part of the steam condenses on the particles of the bulk material which thereby is humidified. The solvent expelled from the bulk material is separated from the steam and can be used again. The treatment is carried out in a closed vessel in which the bulk material and the steam are moved relative to each other.

Abstract: Preparation of granules by making nuclei grow, in a fluidized bed, by causing a liquid material to solidify thereon. The liquid material is sprayed in the bed upwards, with the aid of a spraying device provided with a central channel through which the liquid material is supplied, and a channel concentric therewith carrying a powerful gas stream, with the liquid material contacting the gas stream and being carried with the gas stream to a dilute zone where the growth of the nuclei takes place, which zone is created by the gas stream and is completely within the fluidized bed. The liquid material is made to come out of the central channel as a virtually closed, conical film, with a thrust exceeding the thrust of the gas stream, and this film is nebulized to very fine droplets with the aid of the gas stream.In this process a very small amount of high-energetic gas is needed, while no agglomeration occurs in the bed.

Abstract: Preparation of granules by making solid nuclei grow in a fluidized bed, by causing a liquid material to solidify thereon, the liquid material being introduced into the bed from the bottom upwards with the aid of a feeding device provided with a central channel through which the liquid material is supplied and a channel concentric therewith through which a powerful gas stream is supplied, which creates a rarefied zone in the bed above the feeding device, wherein the liquid material is made to exit from the central channel into the rarefied zone as a virtually closed, conical film, nuclei from the bed are carried through the film with the aid of the powerful gas stream and next, during transport of the so moistened nuclei through the rarefied zone, the liquid material taken up by the nuclei is allowed to solidify. By this process only a small amount of high-energetic gas is required, while very little agglomeration and dust formation occurs.

Abstract: Multi-stage spray drying method to produce spray dried products efficiently in the form of porous clusters of dense individual spheroidal particles bonded together, said clusters or fragments thereof exhibiting rapid wetting and solubility characteristics for reconstituting with water. When fragmented by milling, the product retains free flowing properties and packs in containers requiring less volume for a given shipping weight.

Abstract: An agglomerated powdery milk product is prepared by spraying a concentrate of milk or a fraction thereof into a stream of drying gas directed against the surface of a fluidized layer of already spray dried particles in a conical chamber, thereby obtaining a favorable interaction. Special parameters including temperatures, rates of streams of drying air and residence time are adjusted to obtain an extensively agglomerated product, high production capacity, improved heat economy, low heat damage of the product, and to make possible an easy spray drying of materials, which have hitherto been regarded as unsuitable for spray drying.

Abstract: The present invention relates to separation and finds application in the removal of liquid from particulate material having associated liquid.The invention provides a process and apparatus for the removal of liquid from a particulate material having associated liquid.In accordance with the invention gas is passed through a bed of particulate material having associated liquid, gas which has thereby taken up liquid is removed from the bed and the particulate material is then removed from the bed via an outlet while resistance to gas flow through the outlet is provided to encourage gas to pass through the bed rather than through the outlet.

Abstract: Concentration of a liquid by evaporation is performed in a heat exchanger having riser tubes for the liquid and a granular mass fluidized by the liquid to occupy the tubes. At their upper and lower ends the tubes open into upper and lower chambers. A hot medium contacts the tubes to transfer heat to the liquid. In order to render this heat exchanger effective for evaporation concentration, means are provided for vapor collection and discharge from the upper chamber, the riser tubes extend above the base of the upper chamber. A return conduit for recirculation of the liquid and granular mass connects the upper chamber to the lower chamber, opening in each case at a lower level than the riser tubes. Supply and discharge connections for the liquid are at levels lower than the upper ends of the riser tubes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the recovery of the solid material content of solutions and/or suspensions as granules in a gas fluidized bed which contains particles, the composition of which is identical with that of the solid material in the solution and/or suspension to be processed, in which fluidized bed the solution and/or suspension is sprayed onto the surface and/or interior of the hot gas, especially hot air fluidized layer, and from which fluidized bed particulate material is continuously withdrawn at a mass flow rate corresponding to the solid material content of the liquid phase sprayed in, and also, in which system a grinding mechanical effect is created by forcing continuously particles formed in the fluidized bed through at least one slit of controllable clearance, located in the fluidized layer, itself, in order to produce in a single technological step, in a single apparatus particulate material of predetermined, given particle size distribution.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for treating particulate material. The said material is injected into a chamber. The material subsequently thereto is sprayed with a moistening material. At the same time gases are introduced at the top of the chamber and at the bottom thereof whereby the moisture on the particulate material is evaporated at a controlled rate. The parameters are such that the applied moisture has an opportunity to penetrate the particulate material for a short period of time to achieve some agglomeration before the moisture is evaporated. A fluidized bed is maintained at the bottom of the chamber and the treated particulate material is removed in this fashion.

Abstract: Granular potassium sorbate is continuously manufactured by spraying an aqueous potassium sorbate solution into or onto a bed of potassium sorbate particles fluidized by heated air.

Abstract: Urea granules are prepared by spraying an aqueous urea solution having a urea concentration of 70-99.9% by weight on to fluidized urea nuclei in the form of droplets having a mean drop diameter of 20-120 .mu.m at a temperature at which the water is evaporated from the solution sprayed on to the nuclei and urea crystallizes on the nuclei to form granules having a desired size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an industrial furnace system for treng materials is disclosed, characterized in that the heat which is applied to the material to be treated is partially derived from the combustion of a mixture of waste fuel and water such as sewage slurry. Waste heat generated at the outer surface of the furnace and waste heat generated from the cooling of the treated material is further applied to the slurry to partially dry the waste fuel prior to and during the combustion thereof.

Abstract: A method of agglomerating solid particulate waste material includes heating and fluidizing a bed of non-combustible granular material, the temperature being lower than the melting temperature of the granular material and the fluidization being accomplished by passing a gas through the granular material. A slurry containing the material to be agglomerated is introduced into the bed. The combustible material in the slurry is partially oxidized by means of heat generated by fuel combined with material in the slurry for drying and agglomerating said material and the dried and agglomerated material is removed from the bed.The apparatus includes a combustion chamber, a bed of non-combustible granular material in the chamber, circulating means for passing a gas through the bed, and heating means for heating and maintaining the bed at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Radiant energy is converted to thermal energy utilizing forced convection through a fluidized bed. The bed is made up of solid, radiant energy absorbing solids in particulate form, which are maintained in fluidized condition by passage of a gas therethrough. Radiant energy impinges upon and is absorbed by the bed, and in turn is transferred thermally to the gas. The gas may be utilized to drive a gas turbine power generator, may be reacted chemically with the particulate solids or the like.