Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying grain in which a plurality of conveyors are mounted one above the other. The discharge end of one conveyor feeds the input end of the next lower conveyor. The conveyors have a porous top surface and are vibrated to move the grain. Warm air is conveyed beneath the top conveyor and every other conveyor thereafter. Cool air is conveyed beneath the conveyor beneath the top conveyor and every other conveyor thereafter. The warm and cool air passes through the porous top surfaces of the conveyors. Thus the conveyors alternately heat and cool the grain to remove moisture to the desired level. The apparatus can be free standing or mounted as part of a combine or harvester.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying granular objects comprises, from the top of the apparatus, a holding section; a heating section for heating the granular objects flowing down from the holding section, the heating section being provided beneath the holding section and having a plurality of air ducts to which heated air is introduced; a drying air producing section connected to the air ducts, in which the heated air from the air ducts is mixed with air taken-in from the outside of the apparatus to produce a drying air; and a drying section for drying the granular objects by directly exposing the granular objects to the drying air. The dried granular objects are taken out from a taking-out section and returned to the holding section through a bucket elevator. The apparatus further comprises a detector for detecting the temperature of the drying air. Based on the detected temperature, a control device controls the temperature of the heated air so as to keep the temperature of the drying air to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: This invention is a new, energy efficient, environmentally clean grain drying system which consists of two main parts: a hot drying air generator and a modular, portable drying bin. One novel aspect of the air generator is the introduction of a heat pipe design which enhances the efficiency of a dehumidifier heat pump, making its use economically feasible, especially for humid climates. Another novel aspect is the use of advanced burners incorporating antipollution devices. The hot air generator can operate on many sources of energy such as electricity; gasoline; diesel; biomass such as wood, charcoal, or rice husks; or even solar energy. The modular bin is made of several modules which can be disassembled, transported, and reassembled with great ease. The bin design also creates a very low air pressure drop, allowing substantial savings on blower energy. The complete system will offer great benefits for developing countries that are producers of rice, especially for those with humid climates.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use on existing grain dryers or integral to new grain dryers that recovers heat from the moist hot exhaust air leaving the grain columns and uses this recovered heat to preheat ambient air being drawn into the grain dryer via a blower. The heat exchanger utilizes heat exchange columns separated from ambient air columns by heat conductive walls. The heat conductive walls allow for a transfer of heat from the moist hot exhaust air through the heat conductive walls and into the ambient air being drawn into the grain dryer through the ambient air columns. The heat conductive walls do not allow for the mixing nor contact of the moist hot exhaust air with the ambient air. Therefore, heat is transferred to the ambient air being drawn into the grain dryer without the addition of moisture to the ambient air and the resulting decrease in moisture holding capacity that would result.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for drying bulk materials, which has a hopper-shaped bulk material container 29 with adjustable side walls 30, by which the container 29 can be adjusted to the amount of bulk material to be dried, by varying the volume of the container and the angle of inclination of the hopper. To dehumidify the drying air, a membrane dryer 12 is provided, which processes preferably the compressed air of a compressed-air system 10, which is previously cleaned by filter elements 13 and 14. The rate of flow of drying air can be adjusted by a throttle 16 to the fill level of the container 29. In this manner an apparatus for drying bulk materials is created which is compact and therefore flexible in its application. Through optimization of the rate of flow of the drying air this apparatus is also economical in its consumption of compressed air.

Abstract: Very dry air is made for drying grain and other particulates. The air is dried by first cooling under pressure to remove moisture, then contacted with a drying device such as a vessel containing desiccant, then heated and released into a bed of particulates.

Abstract: A vacuum-type automatic dehumidifying and drying apparatus for powdered or granular material such as a pelletized or powdered resin or the like, provided with a drying hopper connected to an evacuating means having at its bottom a material discharge valve, and provided with a material collector communicating with the drying hopper via a material feeding valve above the drying hopper for collecting the powdered material therein. The apparatus comprises a double constructed drying hopper having a cylindrical main body made of a high heat conductivity material provided on its inner peripheral surface with plural fins, which define compartment walls, projecting inwardly and provided on its outer peripheral surface with a heating means surrounding the cylindrical main body.

Abstract: Very dry air is made for drying grain and other particulates. The air is dried by first cooling under pressure to remove moisture, then contacted with a drying device such as a vessel containing desiccant, then heated and released into a bed of particulates.

Abstract: A low pressure dryer for granular or powdery material includes a plurality of hoppers rotatable about a common vertical axis serially among material filling and heating, vacuum drying and material discharge positions; pneumatic piston-cylinder means for rotating the hoppers about said axis among said filling and heating, vacuum drying and discharge positions; means for heating contents of a hopper at said filling and heating positions; means for sealing a hopper at said vacuum and drying positions; means for drawing vacuum within a hopper at said vacuum drying position and means for selectably permitting downward flow of dried granular or powdery material out of a hopper at said discharge position where said hoppers move collectively and unitarily one with another.

Abstract: A fluid-bed drying unit, particularly but not exclusively used in the field of tobacco drying comprising a drying chamber having a loading inlet and an outlet for discharging the product and provided with openings for the passage of a drying medium. The drying chamber has a substantially tubular shape extending along a longitudinal axis and a substantially triangular vertical cross-sectional shape; the longitudinal axis is substantially inclined with respect to a horizontal axis and means are provided to inject a drying fluid substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A grain dryer which includes a grain column through which grain may flow is disclosed. The grain column has a discharge opening. The grain dryer further includes a metering roll positioned to contact grain advancing out of the discharge opening of the grain column and a grain support member interposed between the metering roll and the discharge opening, the grain support member defining a substantially planar top surface. Rotation of the metering roll causes grain to advance out of the discharge opening, over the substantially planar top surface, and into contact with the metering roll. An angle .THETA. is defined between a line L1 defined by the substantially planar top surface and a horizontal line HL which intersects the line L1. The angle .THETA. is greater than or equal to 0.degree., but less than or equal to 30.degree..

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying grain which includes a method and apparatus for unloading the grain from a grain dryer of a type including spaced apart first and second walls for defining a passageway or grain column for directing grain flowing downwardly by gravity between the first and second walls. A substantially horizontal shelf is disposed below the outlet port of the grain confinement walls for receiving grain thereon from the grain column. A channel is disposed below the shelf for receiving grain which is pushed off of the shelf. A discharge port is disposed in the channel. A strip of material is disposed for moving along above the shelf for metering grain from the shelf to the channel as the strip moves along the shelf. A paddle is disposed for movement in the channel for pushing grain from the channel into the discharge port. The dryer also has a central air passage from top to bottom, which lends itself to being used for three mode drying, if desired.

Abstract: An oven which has a floor, a side wall extending upwardly therefrom to define a combustion chamber, and a top having an opening for combustion gases, a fuel support member mounted in a lower part of the combustion chamber, the fuel support member having a raised central portion with a downwardly and outwardly sloping top surface extending therefrom, and means for supplying fuel to the fuel support member. The oven includes an arrangement for providing primary air to the fuel on the fuel support member and for providing secondary air to an upper portion of the combustion chamber, the secondary air being arranged to impart a cyclonic motion to the combustion gases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the operation of a regenerator, hot and cold gas being repeatedly passed through a bulk material 4 with a maximum particle diameter D.sub.max which is received in the annular space 1 between a substantially cylindrical hot grid 3 and a cold grid 4 [sic] surrounding the latter, and at least one discharge opening 16 being provided in the bottom B of the annular space 1 for discharging the bulk material 4. To increase the service life of the regenerator, it is proposed according to the invention that a predetermined amount of bulk material 4 is discharged during or after the passing-through of hot gas, so that a compressive stress exerted by the bulk material 4 on the hot grid 3 and cold grid 4 [sic] is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for disinfecting granular material using microwave energy in an applicator that mixes the material with air for consistent and effective insect mortality rates.

Abstract: A device utilizing solar energy, including four supporting-moving mechanisms moving and adjusting collectors in more than one direction connected to a frame, the supporting-moving mechanism is also connected to a fix base surface, an absorbing plate black colored and with pyramidal or wedge shape is placed on an insulating plate laying on the base plate of the plane collectors placed on the frame, translucent covering plate covers all the surface, baffles between the base plate and translucent covering plate perpendicular to the base plate and parallel to each others provide an air current path, the farthest baffles form side walls, opposite to the inlet of the air current path installed with filter an outlet is provided, the inlet of the air pump house is connected to the outlet to which a device utilizing the heat energy is connected.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus that provides an apparatus for continuously re-hydrating, cooking or blanching dried solid products. Specifically, the apparatus provides controlled high pressure and temperature to continuously re-hydrate, cook or blanch dried food products while maintaining food product integrity and quality.

Abstract: An improved cyclone dryer is disclosed, having an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and a cone-shaped chamber. The outer cylinder has a tangential airstream orifice for injecting a high-speed stream of material and air, or other gases, into the dryer. The inner cylinder has a plurality of apertures and a plurality of deflectors that deflect air and material into a cavity defined by the inner cylinder and the cone-shaped chamber. The cone-shaped chamber, the outer cylinder, and the inner cylinder define an annular air chamber. An exhaust assembly is attached proximate the inner and outer cylinders, and is in fluid communication with the cavity.

Abstract: An automatically controlled seed dryer of the present invention is adapted to efficiently and precisely dry seed by automatically controlling the temperatures directions and air flow rate; of air flow through the seed within the bin. The invention includes an upper plenum for supplying a source of hot airs a lower plenum for supplying a source of ambient air, and a mixing plenum for mixing various proportions of hot and ambient air from the upper and lower plenums. The mixing plenum has upper and lower supply doors formed between the mixing plenum and the bin for supplying the mixed air to the bin either above or below the seed. Upper and lower exhaust doors are formed in the bin above and below the seed such that by controlling the operation of the supply and exhaust doors, the direction and air flow rate of the mixed air through the seed can be precisely controlled by an electronic controller. A plurality of linear actuators control the operation of the doors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a granular material, such as a phosphate fertilizer, using ambient air is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cooling device and a conveyor assembly for feeding the material. The cooling device includes a rotatable assembly for receiving and spreading the material in the ambient air. The rotatable assembly is comprised of radiating fins with alternating recesses.

Abstract: A heater for a grain bin is attached to the inlet flange of a centrifugal inline blower and comprises a housing having a vertical front wall attached to the inlet flange of the blower and a parallel vertical rear wall. The front wall has an opening aligned with the opening into the blower. The rear wall has an opening aligned with the opening in the front wall so that the majority of the air entering the blower passes straight through the housing from the rear wall to the front wall. A sleeve surrounds the opening in the rear wall and induces some flow from the housing to mix with the flow into the blower. The combustion chamber is attached to the rear wall through an opening in the rear wall above the sleeve. The housing has two side walls converging to an open top through which air can escape. When heated air is required an air flow is induced from the combustion chamber to mix with the air flow through the housing to heat the total air flow.

Abstract: A pellet conditioning device (10) for the cooling and/or drying of preformed discrete pellets (148) is provided which includes an upright pellet-receiving bin (12) with a dual grate assembly (18) therein. The assembly (18) includes a stationary first grate comprising a plurality of upright, apertured grate wall members (86), and a shiftable second grate including a plurality of elongated, obliquely oriented plates (106) located between and in spanning relationship to adjacent pairs of the wall members (86). Shifting structure (20) is provided for selective and sequential translational, rectilinear shifting movement of the lower margins (110) of the plates (106) so as to successively open and close a pellet passageway (117) adjacent each lower margin (110). A duct and fan arrangement (38) is also provided with the bin (12) so as to draw cooling air currents through the grate assembly (18) and pellets (148) therein.

Abstract: Drying of a solid polymer is disclosed in which a solid polymer obtained by polymerization (or a product of modification of the solid polymer) is contacted with a drying gas so that any solvent and/or unreacted polymerization feed materials remaining in the solid polymer are removed to thereby dry the solid polymer, and in which a gaseous polymerization feed material is used as the drying gas and contacted with the solid polymer to thereby dry the solid polymer (step i), and the resultant solid polymer is contacted with a drying gas which contains an inert gas (step ii). The drying gas can be recovered from the step (i) and part thereof can be recycled through a polymerization step as it is or be recycled, after cooling the drying gas to thereby remove any condensed components, to the step (i). Not only can the solid polymer be efficiently dried but also the solvent and unreacted polymerization feed materials recovered from the solid polymer can efficiently be recycled by the disclosed method.

Abstract: An improved cyclone dryer is disclosed, having an upper, a lower cylinder and a cone-shaped chamber that define a cavity. The improved dryer is adapted for a high-speed airstream to enter the cavity via a tangential airstream orifice. Wet material is fed into the improved dryer via an input assembly that is mounted proximate an exhaust assembly and feeds wet material into the cavity, at a point proximate a lower portion of the cylinder and proximate the cone-shaped chamber.

Abstract: In a process for the coating treatment of hot, non-homogeneous bulk material using a grate cooler having a conveyor grate for conveying the bulk material, separation of the bulk material is effected in accordance with grain fractions which are subjected to further treatment separately. All the bulk material which is delivered on to the conveyor grate is pre-cooled in a common bulk material bed to a given temperature. The material is graded into a plurality of grain fractions downstream of the conveyor grate, and at least individual grain fractions are separately post-cooled.

Abstract: In a spray drying device with a drying chamber and at the bottom thereof a fluidized bed, which is maintained on a perforated plated, the fluidized layer is divided by means of separation means into two zones, of which only one is supplied with particles from the spray drying chamber, whereas the second zone is substantially supplied with particles only from the first zone and is designed for treatment of the particles while they pass through the zone in a flow without substantial back mixing. The device makes it possible to manufacture a product which without after-treatment, is substantially dustless and has the desired particle size distribution, degree of dampness and surface treatment. Furthermore, an improved exploitation of energy is achieved.

Abstract: An electronic device that simplifies a use of a data processing system. The electronic device displays on a data processing system display device either data from the data processing system or data generated by the electronic device. The electronic device displays data on the display device to allow entry of data to the data processing system by using a touch sensitive screen placed over the display device. The operation of the electronic device is achieved without modification of the data processing system or application software executing in the data processing system.

Abstract: A dryer has a hopper for material to be dried and an inlet line for supplying dry air to the hopper. A heating device for heating the dry air to the desired drying temperature before introduction into the hopper is provided. A return line is connected to the hopper for removing moist air from the hopper which results from the dry air passing through the material in the hopper and absorbing moisture therefrom. The return line has a part that functions as a heat exchanger. The dry air before entering the hopper is guided through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A continuous-flow grain steeping and slow grain cooling process and apparatus. The continuous charging of hot, partially dried grain from a heated-air dryer into the top of a grain container in a layer of approximately uniform thickness is accomplished by use of grain spreading equipment. The downward flow of grain through the grain container is regulated by thermostatically controlled sweep and discharge augers located in the bottom of the bin. The grain flows at a rate that allows the grain to remain in a top steeping zone for a predetermined period of time, typically from four to twelve hours. After the initially charged grain is held at the steeping temperature for a predetermined steeping time, a continuous upward flow of ambient air is provided by a fan to cool the grain in a bottom cooling zone. The air flow is controlled by a thermostat to provide air flow at a rate that allows grain to remain in the cooling zone for a predetermined cooling time which is dependent on the airflow rate in cfm/bu.

Abstract: A continuous-flow, slow grain cooling process including the charging of hot, partially dried grain from a heated-air grain dryer into the top of a grain container in an even layer. The downward flow of grain through the grain container is regulated at a rate that allows the grain to remain in a top steeping zone for from four to twelve hours. After the initially charged grain is held at the steeping temperature for a predetermined steeping time, a controlled upward flow of ambient air is provided to cool the grain in a bottom cooling zone. The air flow is provided at a rate that allows grain to remain in the cooling zone until it is cooled close to the ambient air temperature, but the upward flow is controlled such that it will not cool any grain until it has been properly steeped. Cooled dry grain from a layer near the bottom is then discharged from the bottom of the grain container.

Abstract: As a rule a melt-good consisting of glass fragments and glass batching will be moist and tend to agglomerate and bridge-form when being preheated in a plate heat-exchanger 10 whereby the travel of the melt-good through the plate heat-exchanger 10 may be blocked. To remedy these drawbacks, the preheating stage is preceded by a drying stage of the moist melt-good. For that purpose, in the intake zone of the melt-good, the moisture of the melt-good is evaporated by means of a separate feed of hot heating gas into the already cooled flows of heating gas. At the same time the heated melt-good is made to pass through cavities 12 through which the steam may escape to the outside. Thereby condensation shall be precluded and only fluid or friable melt-good arrives at the preheating stage.

Abstract: A device for pre-treating electronic circuit scraps has a conduit placed at a slope to the vertical direction. Also, some counter-rotating disk wheels are arranged in a cascade and bear grid-like vanes. These wheels begin at an upper end where the scraps are introduced through an inlet and extend down to a lower end where a scrap outlet is located. The inlet and the outlet for the scraps are made up of rotatable doors. The inlet has a loading opening and the outlet has a discharge conveyor. Air barriers may be interposed at the inlet and the outlet. The conduit includes an element that causes the heat-exchange fluid to circulate inside from the lower end to the upper end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging food or feed product from a cooler. Food or feed product may be introduced in a cooler formed of a large bin. The product is cooled by drawing a low volume of air having a high static pressure drop through the product. Trough-shaped gates are positionable beneath discharge openings in a lower portion of the bin to inhibit discharge of product. Product is intermittently discharged from the openings by selectively moving the gates at least partially away from the openings to permit product to flow through the openings. In preferred embodiments, a driver moves the gates intermittently in first and second directions by causing the gates to swing about a pivotal mounting point.

Abstract: A dryer apparatus and method for drying yard waste or other particulate matter is disclosed. The dryer has a generally vertical housing defining an internal drying chamber. An input device may be positioned adjacent the housing top for transferring the particulate matter into the dryer. A discharge apparatus is positioned adjacent the housing bottom for discharging dried material out of the dryer. A plurality of generally horizontal transfer devices are vertically spaced apart within the internal drying chamber, defining a plurality of drying zones associated therewith. The transfer devices are adapted to transfer the particulate matter from one drying zone to a next lower drying zone. Additionally, when filling and transferring material from one zone to another, they provide a support on which the particulate matter may.

Abstract: A manure drying system for reducing the moisture content in manure collected in an animal husbandry operation, and a method of carrying out the manure drying process. The system and method include providing an animal confinement facility having a ventilation system operating within the facility which causes an air flow. Accumulation apparatus for collecting and selectively holding manure produced by the animals and channeling apparatus for directing at least some part of the air flow produced within the facility onto the manure collected by the accumulation apparatus are also provided. The use of the apparatus and method cause a significant reduction in the moisture content of the manure accumulated and facilitate handling and disposal operations.

Abstract: A grain drying apparatus of a type including, a pair of spaced apart air pervious walls for confining a column of grain to be dried. A plenum chamber is formed on one side of the innermost of the air pervious walls. A blower or the like is provided for causing heated air from said plenum chamber to pass through the spaced air pervious walls and therefore through said column of grain to be dried. A grain diverting plate is disposed between and spaced from the spaced air pervious walls. A first portion of the plate which is closest to the innermost air pervious wall is higher than a second portion of said plate which is closest to the outermost air pervious wall. This creates a void under the angled plate. The angle of the plate is steep enough to allow grain to flow against it on the bottom side, therefore grain will completely flow into and fill the void. The grain next to the outside skin of the dryer is restricted into a funnel with the outlet being smaller than the inlet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dryer for uniform drying of moisture laden particulate material. The dryer comprises a substantially vertical tower having a top, a bottom, side walls, a moist material inlet, a moist material distribution section below the inlet, a drying section below the distribution section and a cooling section below the drying section. The drying section contains a heated air inlet and air exhaust assemblies, wherein the air exhaust assemblies are formed from a plurality of discharge chambers extending horizontally across the tower between the side walls for flow of particulate material therebetween. Each discharge chamber contains at least one horizontally disposed exhaust tubular member having an aperture in the lower portion of the tubular member for exhausting air. Each discharge chamber also contains at least one aperture in the upper portion thereof for receiving air.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drying hopper comprising, disposed in its lower position, a cone portion having diameters gradually decreasing toward a lower end thereof, in which a high temperature gas is injected toward powder descending in the cone portion to thereby dry the powder, wherein said drying hopper comprises a cone portion 11 having a slant, circular wall, said cone portion 11 having a plurality of vertically spaced rows of nozzles 20, formed through the circular wall, disposed at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the circular wall; a plurality of vertically spaced ring-like shells 21 fluidtightly attached to an external surface of the circular wall of the cone portion 11 with interstices therebetween in positions such that said plurality of rows of nozzles 20 are respectively, at gas inlets thereof, covered by said plurality of ring-like shells 21; and a plurality of gas feed pipes 22 respectively connected to said plurality of ring-like shells 21 in communicating relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling warm granular product. The apparatus includes a grate system having a first grate overlying and second grate. The first grate has a plurality of parallel generally spaced apart members, whereas the second grate has a plurality of parallel equally spaced apart beams. The first and second grate reciprocate relative to each other between a first position in which the product is retained on the grate system and a second position in which the product flows through the grate system. Each of the members in the first grate includes an air flow deflector defining a primary and secondary air outlets for dividing a flow of air into primary and secondary air streams. When the grates are in their relative second position, the secondary air stream is increased to minimize fluidization of the pellet product as it flows through the grate system.

Abstract: A bulk material reactor which has a travelling bed (3) made up of the bulk material held inside a reactor housing (1), with an input assembly (14, 15) on the top and an outlet assembly (4) on the bottom of the travelling bed, a gas supply line (10) and a gas discharge line (18) at different ends of the travelling bed (3), wherein the travelling bed (3) is disposed around a central column (2), the floor (6) of which adjoins the discharge assembly (4), holding the bulk material at an angle of repose; it possesses an advantageous gas supply and can thereby be combined into major reactor assemblies without difficulty, because the interior of the central column (2) constitutes the gas line (10) and the central column (2) has an outlet opening (11) in its floor (6).

Abstract: A product withdrawal tube for use in a fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. The tube features a plurality of elongated tubular segments which are fitted together to obtain flexible and sealing engagement between the segments whereby the tube is durable despite the vibrations and shocks experienced by it due to the operation of the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: An on-line type moisture measuring system for powdered or granular materials wherein the moisture content of the materials is repeatedly measured by supplying a dehumidified and dried air each time the materials are sampled for measuring and thereafter automatically discharged. The system is comprised of a combination of sampling means and a moisture measuring apparatus. The sampling means samples a fixed amount of the materials from a material storage container and pneumatically transports the sampled materials.

Abstract: An apparatus for spray drying a mixture of a liquid containing dissolved solids and a high temperature gas containing molten solids employs a gas flow retarding auxiliary chamber upstream of a spray drying main chamber for retarding the rate of flow of gas into the main chamber. The slowed rate of gas flow serves to reduce generation of eddy currents and to distribute the gas flow more uniformly in the main chamber. The apparatus also employs a bi-level atomizing spray nozzle arrangement in the spray drying main chamber for injecting an atomized liquid spray into the gas flow and thereby disrupting the gas flow at both the inlet of and midway through the main chamber. Such disruptions of gas flow provides a more thorough mixing of the gas and sprayed atomized liquid and distributes the gas flow more uniformly across the main chamber and thereby distributes the evaporation and drying of solids from the mixture more uniformly throughout the main chamber.

Abstract: A pelleting line incorporates a flash dryer in order to permit processing of coarsely ground particulate feed material under optimum conditions at all stages of processing. By conditioning using steam having higher than normally optimum moisture content and temperature, an increased gradient of moisture and temperature can be maintained from surface of the feed material particle to its center. The conditioning can be accomplished in approximately the same time as that required for finely ground feed material. Thus starch conversion, salmonella destruction, and shear strength adjustment are each optimized for the pellet production process. Because it permits processing of coarsely ground feed material, incorporation of the flash dryer in the pelleting line reduces grinding costs and eliminates down time of the pelleting line caused by plugging of the pelletizing mill and/or the necessity to purge the feed material conditioner.

Abstract: A vertical shaft processor includes a feed zone utilizing a lock hopper for introducing particulate material to a treatment zone in charges while inhibiting the release of treating fluids from the vessel. A separator receives particulate material from the lock hopper and distributes it across the cross-section of the vessel so as to encourage a uniform cross-sectional flow of various sized particulate material through the treatment zone. Treating fluids are uniformly distributed into the treatment zone of the vessel beneath the separator and through not only linear but also arcuate distributor pipes so that the treating fluids are uniformly exposed to the particulate material across the cross-section of the vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates in general to a reactor installation for countercurrent treatment of gases and bulk solids and, in particular, to a moving bed reactor installation with at least one reaction chamber which latter has at least one inlet and at least one outlet for passing therethrough a solid material present in bulk from the top toward the bottom countercurrently to a gas, at least one flow baffle by means of which the gas is conducted from the bottom toward the top into the bulk material present in the reaction chamber, at least one first sliding surface for the bulk material, arranged above the reaction chamber and terminating at its upper end into a feeding shaft or hopper and supplying the inlet of the reaction chamber with bulk material, and at least one second sliding surface for the bulk material, arranged below the outlet, wherein the sliding surfaces are inclined regarding the horizontal to such an extent that the bulk material is conveyed in the inclined direction solely under the action of gra

Abstract: Particulate carbon is reactivated by heating it for an effective reactivation time at a reactivation temperature in a stationary vertical annular heating zone of an unlined metal kiln.

Abstract: An on-line moisture control method for powdered or granular materials and a related system to practice the method. A fixed amount of materials are sampled by a material sampling means, transported into a heat treatment chamber having an airtight heating part, heated in the heat treatment chamber while an inert gas is supplied therein, and the weight measured by a weight measuring unit. The moisture generated by heating the materials is sent to a moisture measuring unit together with the inert gas. An operation unit receives the weight value measured by the weight measuring unit and the titrated value measured by the moisture measuring unit, and calculates the moisture content of the materials and displays the value.

Abstract: Polyamide granules are dried and heated by feeding a suspension of granules in water into a sieve (1), where the bulk of the water is removed, and then into a tower dryer (10), where they are deposited in bed form and then freed of the remaining water while moving in plug flow under the force of gravity with a counter-current inert gas stream at from 70.degree. to 200.degree. C. The tower dryer possesses an inlet at the top (11) and outlet at the bottom (34) for the granules and also feed lines (20, 22, 31) for the inert gas. To achieve a uniform degree of drying of the granules, the inert gas is divided on entry into the tower dryer at a point between the drying zone and the heating zone into a stream which flows radially inward into the bed of granules on the one hand and a stream which flows radially inward and outward on the other. In this way the inert gas is distributed particularly uniformly and the granules are dryable in a very short drying zone down to a water content of 0.

Abstract: A liquid recovery system and method for precipitating dissolved solid material out of a spent liquid, and for thereafter separating the precipitated solid material from the liquid to provide a recovered liquid. The system includes a first tank for receiving spent liquid in a substantially continuous manner, a second tank for receiving a quantity of spent liquid from the first tank, a separator for separating solid material from the spent liquid in the second tank to provide a recovered liquid in the second tank, a third tank for receiving a quantity of recovered liquid from the second tank, and output means for delivering recovered liquid from the third tank in a continuous manner. The separator includes a separator tank through which spent liquid in the second tank is circulated during a circulation period to separate precipitated solid material from the spent liquid.