Abstract: Invention relates to a vertical ring shaft kiln comprising a vertical burning region (1); an intermediate sintering zone (Z3) surrounded by a first wall (10) and an opposite second wall (20) at the burning region (1) to obtain a clinker from a particulate raw material flowing downwards direction.

Abstract: A preheat charging system for preheating scrap metal prior to delivery to a melting furnace. The system includes a preheating station having a heating chamber adapted to receive scrap metal. Hot gas from a burner chamber is circulated around the scrap metal. The burner chamber is adapted to receive exhaust gas from a hot exhaust gas source such as a melting furnace. A burner apparatus is mounted within the burner chamber in a flow path of an exhaust inlet port. The burner is configured to supply supplemental heat on demand to the heating chamber to supplement the hot exhaust gas. A first fan can be provided to direct exhaust air from a furnace to the burner chamber. A second fan can be provided for directing air into the burner apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regenerative thermal postcombustion plant (24) used for purifying exhaust gas comprising hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, particularly for exhaust gas occurring during cement clinker production, by means of which the carbon compound is oxidized and the nitrogen oxides are thermally reduced while feeding in a nitrogen-hydrogen compound at a temperature of greater than 800° C. in the multistage combustion chamber (35).

Abstract: A continuous scrap feed into an electric smelting furnace (EAF) having a channel connected at one end to an opening in a wall of the smelting furnace and has at its other end a charging device for the scrap. An extraction device for the off-gases which are guided through the channel serve to preheat the scrap, this extraction device being connected to the channel between the two ends of the channel located closer to the smelting furnace than the scrap feed in relation to the total length of the channel. The extraction device is a single-stage blower whose intake opening is oriented in the direction of the smelting furnace, and the clear cross section of the channel between the extraction device and the scrap feed is adapted to the amount of scrap so that the height of the scrap charge substantially fills the clear cross section.

Abstract: A method of heating a charge material by controlling heat flux in a tilt rotary furnace is disclosed. Combustion by the burner forms a heat release profile including a high heat flux region. The positioning of the high heat flux region is controllable by providing a controlled amount of secondary or staged oxidant. The burner is configured and controlled to position a region of high heat flux at a position corresponding to an area requiring greater heating, such as the area of maximum charge depth in the furnace to provide substantially uniform melting and heat distribution.

Abstract: A method for feeding lime mud into a lime kiln including a rotary kiln shell having an interior between a first end wall and a second end wall, the method including: feeding the lime mud into a flue gas flow in the interior of the rotary kiln shell or in close proximity to the shell to pretreat the lime mud; separating the pretreated lime mud from the flue gas flow; conveying the separated lime mud into the lime kiln, and calcining the separated lime mud in the lime kiln.

Abstract: The method according to the invention for operating a PFR lime kiln having at least two shafts, which each have a preheating zone, a combustion zone and a cooling zone, and an overflow channel which connects the two shafts, substantially comprises the following method steps: the two shafts are operated alternately as a combustion shaft and exhaust gas shaft, combustion air and fuel are supplied to the combustion shaft, a corresponding flame length being formed, and the hot gases which are produced in the combustion shaft reach the exhaust gas shaft via the overflow channel, at least one parameter of the hot gases which is characteristic of the formation of the flame length being established by means of direct or indirect measurement in the region of the overflow channel and the ratio of fuel to combustion air being adjusted in accordance with this parameter in order to adjust a predetermined flame length.

Abstract: The invention teaches continuous process for rapidly drying a population of pressure sensitive microcapsules.

Abstract: A system for controlling atmospheric gas inside a furnace may include a furnace into which an atmospheric gas is charged for thermaltreating carbon steel, a flow control portion that is connected to the furnace for controlling the flow of the atmospheric gas, a gas generator for producing an endothermic gas (Rx gas) and supplying the flow control portion with the endothermic gas, and a gas analyzing control portion for analyzing the atmospheric gas that is supplied through a sampling line that is connected to the furnace and for controlling the flow control portion based on the analyzed data so as to control a flux of the atmospheric gas that is supplied to the furnace. With the system, decarbonization of carbon steel can be prevented or reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining bed velocity and solids circulation rate in a standpipe experiencing a moving packed bed flow, such as the in the standpipe section of a circulating bed fluidized reactor The method utilizes in-situ measurement of differential pressure over known axial lengths of the standpipe in conjunction with in-situ gas velocity measurement for a novel application of Ergun equations allowing determination of standpipe void fraction and moving packed bed velocity. The method takes advantage of the moving packed bed property of constant void fraction in order to integrate measured parameters into simultaneous solution of Ergun-based equations and conservation of mass equations across multiple sections of the standpipe.

Abstract: A method of operating a furnace having a circulating fluidized bed is described. Fuel is combusted in the fluidized bed. The fluidized bed includes a dense bed portion and a lower furnace portion adjacent to the dense bed portion. Reactant is injected in the furnace to reduce the emission of at least one combustion product in the flue gas. Secondary air is injected into the furnace above the dense bed. Using this method, the amount of reactant needed to reduce the emission of the at least one combustion product is reduced.

Abstract: A gas fired furnace capable of operating with a 16:1 turndown ratio or greater. The furnace includes a plurality of burners (10) grouped into at least (14a) first and second (14b) groups, each group connected to a source of combustible gas through a control valve (30a, 30b, 30c). The control valve (30c) controlling at least one group of burners is of a modulating type having an output proportional to a control signal applied to the valve. The burners fire into associated heat exchange tubes (20a), each tube having an inlet (24) and an outlet. The tube outlets are connected to a collector chamber (44) that includes a baffle plate (60) that divides the collector into two sections, one of the sections communicating with the outlets of the tubes associated with the first group of burners, the other section communicating with the outlets of the heat exchanger tubes associated with the other group of burners.

Abstract: A gas fired furnace capable of operating with a 16:1 turndown ratio or greater. The furnace includes a plurality of burners (10) grouped into at least (14a) first and second (14b) groups, each group connected to a source of combustible gas through a control valve (30a, 30b, 30c). The control valve (30c) controlling at least one group of burners is of a modulating type having an output proportional to a control signal applied to the valve. The burners fire into associated heat exchange tubes (20a), each tube having an inlet (24) and an outlet. The tube outlets are connected to a collector chamber (44) that includes a baffle plate (60) that divides the collector into two sections, one of the sections communicating with the outlets of the tubes associated with the first group of burners, the other section communicating with the outlets of the heat exchanger tubes associated with the other group of burners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing metal oxide from metal compounds, in particular metal hydroxide or metal carbonate, in which the metal compound is conveyed into a reactor (25) with fluidized bed, heated there to a temperature of 650 15 to 1150° C. by combustion of fuel, and metal oxide is generated, as well as to a corresponding plant. To improve the utilization of energy, it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a gas supply tube (26) into a mixing chamber (20) of the reactor (25), the gas supply tube (26) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (27) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas, and 20 to adjust the gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture and of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (27) such that the Particle-Froude numbers in the gas supply tube (26) lie between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (27) between 0.02 and 2, and in the mixing chamber (20) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: A method is described for reducing NOx emissions and improving energy efficiency during mineral processing in a rotary kiln. The method comprises injection of air with high velocity/high kinetic energy into the kiln to reduce or eliminate stratification of kiln gases. The method can be applied to mix gases in a rotary kiln vessel or in a preheater/precalciner vessel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pneumatically drying thickened lime mud and feeding the dried thickened lime mud to a lime reburning kiln. The thickened mud is pneumatically dried via the action of flue gas emanating from the lime reburning kiln. The dried, thickened lime is separated from the flue gas in a cyclone separator. A process loop controller determines the temperature of the separated lime and, in response, controls the feed rate of lime fed to the pneumatic dryer to ensure that the dryer possesses the requisite latent heat needed to dry thickened lime therein. In one embodiment, the feed rate of lime fed to the thickener is adjustably controlled which, in turn, adjustably varies the flow rate of the thickened mud to the dryer.

Abstract: A diffuser (24) for an annealing furnace has a plurality of radially extending generally and vertically oriented vanes (40) for radially directing furnace gases. The vanes have top edges (42) defining a generally planar support and the top edges of the vanes have a notch (38) therein for receiving a conduit (34) preferably ring shaped that extend substantially around a center portion of the diffuser plate. The conduit (34) is connected to an inlet (32) for receiving enriching gases and exit ports (50) circumferentially space about said conduit (34) passing the enriching gases into the diffuser (24) to be mixed with ambient furnace gases.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed boiler having improved reactant utilization. The circulating fluidized bed boiler includes a circulating fluidized bed having a dense bed portion; a lower furnace portion adjacent to the dense bed portion; and an upper furnace portion, wherein the dense bed portion of the circulating fluidized bed boiler is maintained below the stoichiometric ratio (fuel rich stage) and the lower furnace portion is maintained above the stoichiometric ratio (fuel lean stage), thereby reducing the formation of NOx.; a reactant to reduce the emission of at least one combustion product in the flue gas; and a plurality of secondary air injection ports downstream of the circulating fluidized bed for providing mixing of the reactant and the flue gas in the furnace above the dense bed, wherein the amount of reactant required for the reduction of the emission of the combustion product is reduced.

Abstract: In order to quantitatively evaluate actual circulation quantity of bed material extremely simply and to enhance accuracy of comparison of results of thermal balance examined through simulation or the like with actual operation results, time is measured which is required for bed material in a downcomer 5 to reach an upper predetermined height H1 from a lower reference height H0 during stopped feeding of fluidizing air to an external heat exchanger 7; a flow rate of the bed material as circulation quantity is determined from the time and an accumulated amount of the bed material based on an inner diameter D of the downcomer 5.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for delivering gas in a liquefied state at a controlled rate. The liquefied gas may be transported in ton cylinders by placing the ton cylinder on a transportation pallet. The transportation pallet containing the ton cylinder may be placed on a heating saddle so that a surface of the cylinder is in contact with a surface of the heating saddle. Heating fluid may flow through the heating saddle, thereby heating the liquid in the cylinder through the cylinder walls. Furthermore, the vapor pressure of the gas in the cylinder may be monitored and maintained at a desired level by regulating the flow of heating fluid through the saddle. Therefore, embodiments of the invention allow the maintenance of gas flow rates in a cylinder without removing the cylinder from its transportation pallet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for stabilizing a fluidized bed used in roasting by adjusting the oxygen content of the roasting gas in the bed. The fine-grained material for roasting is fed into the furnace above the fluidized bed and the roasting gas, which causes the fluidizing, is fed into the bottom of the furnace through a grate. In this method, the total amount of oxygen in the roasting gas to be fed and the average total oxygen requirement of the material to be roasted are calculated and the ratio between them regulated so that the oxygen coefficient in the bed is over 1.

Abstract: Primary fuel and preheated oxidant are injected into a combustion zone to produce a flame with a predetermined adiabatic flame temperature. The preheated oxidant is injected at a target rate of oxidant injection. The primary fuel is injected at a first reduced rate which is less than a corresponding target rate of fuel injection. Secondary fuel is simultaneously injected into the combustion zone separately from the flame at a second reduced rate which is equal to the difference between the first reduced rate and the target rate of fuel injection. In this manner, combustion of the fuel with the preheated oxidant provides the amount of heat expected from the target rates of injection, while maintaining an adiabatic flame temperature that is lower than it might otherwise be if the target rate of fuel injection were provided entirely at the flame. The lower adiabatic flame temperature provides a correspondingly lower rate of NOx production.

Abstract: A process controls oxy-boost firing and air-fuel burner firing in furnaces, including large glass furnaces such as float furnaces. The large side-fired regenerative float furnaces use oxy-boost firing for a variety of reasons, including production increase, improved glass quality, lowering of superstructure temperatures, and reduction of emissions. An adaptive controller receives input data from process parameter sensors throughout the furnace, and adjusts its control logic for controlling both the oxy-boost burners and the air-fuel port burners.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayered ceramic electronic component includes the step of firing multilayered ceramic bodies having therein ceramic layers and internal electrodes in a firing furnace while flowing one or more atmosphere gases thereinto, wherein the ratio of the amount of the atmosphere gases introduced into the firing furnace per a time period to the amount of organic materials included in the multilayered ceramic bodies introduced into the firing furnace per the time period is between about 200 L/g and about 1200 L/g. Further, the multilayered ceramic bodies are introduced into the firing furnace along a first direction and the atmosphere gases flow in the firing furnace along a direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing, the method including processing a workpiece in a plurality of processing steps and measuring characteristics of the processing performed on the workpiece in at least two of the plurality of processing steps. The method also includes displaying the characteristics measured by overlaying the characteristics measured at each of the at least two of the plurality of processing steps to display a final resulting workpiece.

Abstract: A method for controlling NOx in a multi-zone re-heating furnace used for meeting process heating (or re-heating) requirements in the metals industry. Oxidant-fuel stoichiometry is altered in different zones of a multi-zone re-heating furnace to reduce the overall NOx emission without replacing existing burners or intrusively modifying the furnace (or drilling holes in the furnace) for fuel and/or an oxidant injection. The oxidant-fuel stoichiometry in at least one zone of a multi-zone re-heating furnace is made either oxidant neutral or oxidant deficient (or fuel rich) to reduce the formation of NOx and the oxidant-fuel stoichiometry of at least one other zone that is located downstream of the oxidant neutral or oxidant deficient zone is made oxidant rich (or fuel lean) to further reduce the formation of NOx in the furnace.

Abstract: Combustion process in a furnace comprising a floor on which a charge to be heated is placed, and a roof lying above the charge, in which process the combustible fluid and the oxidizer fluid are injected separately between the surface of the charge and the roof, characterized in that the oxidizer and the fuel are injected at two different levels and in that the ratio of the impulsive forces (m.sub.2.v.sub.2 /m.sub.1.v.sub.1) of the combustible and oxidizer fluids is greater than or equal to approximately 1/3, m.sub.1 being the mass flow rate of the top fluid and v.sub.1, its velocity of injection into the furnace, m.sub.2 being the mass flow rate of the bottom fluid and v.sub.2 its velocity of injection into the furnace.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the determination of the gas flux distribution in the shaft of a blast furnace. The invention is characterized in that: the temperature and optionally also the composition of the gas that has passed through the burden is measuring a probe located above the burden surface, in close vicinity to said surface, at different measurement point (1, 2, 3 . . . ) in the cross section of the shaft; and the temperature and composition of the gas mixture are measured at a point (I) located fiber away from the burden, in which point the gas is completely mixed; and the gas flux distribution is calculated by the use of energy and mass balances for a control volume (V) above the burden surface of the blast furnace, wherein the lower boundary of said volume (V) goes through the measurement points (1, 2, 3 . . . ) and the upper boundary of the volume (V) goes through the measurement point (I).

Abstract: A preheating apparatus for particulate material includes a plurality of vertical chambers, a temperature sensor within each chamber and a particulate discharge mechanism. Each chamber is segregated from an adjacent chamber by a vertical wall and includes a material inlet for receiving particulate material, a material outlet for discharging particulate material, a gas inlet for receiving a gas, and a gas outlet for exhausting gas. The temperature sensor is located within a chamber so as to sense temperature of the gas being exhausted from each chamber. A particulate discharge mechanism discharges particulate material within each chamber through the material outlet, with a flow rate adjusted as a function of temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor. A method for preheating particulate material includes sensing temperature of the gas existing each chamber and adjusting a flow rate of the particulate material through each chamber as a function of sensed temperature of each chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for glass manufacture is described having batch preheating and reduced pollution emission. The apparatus includes two modules containing pelletized glass and/or cullet. One module functions as a pelletized glass preheater, and the other as a filter for removing pollution emissions from furnace exhaust gases. The modules are switchable, such that the preheating module can be converted to a filter module, and the filter module converted to a preheating module, thus allowing periodic cleaning and routine maintenance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a baffle apparatus for insertion into a semiconductor wafer processing furnace to diffuse processing gases that are injected into the furnace by an injector nozzle. The baffle apparatus comprises:a diffuser plate assembly having an upper end and a lower end, the diffuser plate assembly having at least one diffuser plate against which injected gases are to be forced; andthe lower end of the diffuser plate assembly being sized and shaped to engage with and be supported by an elongated wafer paddle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor processing furnace flow restricting apparatus for insertion into a longitudinally elongated semiconductor wafer processing furnace to create back pressure to increase residence time of processing gases within the furnace. The apparatus comprises:at least two ring-like members, one of the ring-like members being concentrically mounted inside the other, the ring-like members each having a fore longitudinal end and an aft longitudinal end, the two ring-like members each having a varying diameter which tapers inwardly from the fore longitudinal end to the aft longitudinal end; anda lower mounting assembly having a male fitting cross sectional size and shape which is complementary to an upward female size and shape of the elongated wafer paddle, the male shape of the mounting assembly being supportable within the female shape of the wafer paddle to laterally position the two rings when the paddle and apparatus are received within a semiconductor wafer processing furnace.

Abstract: To enable the operation of a cement manufacturing installation to be controlled by taking into account changes in essential operating parameters as soon as they appear, the quantity of the total theoretical heat (QT) required to convert the raw material to clinker is calculated by applying correcting coefficients to the quantity of a predetermined total nominal heat (QTO) corresponding to nominal values imposed by parameters (K1, K2, . . . Kn) characteristic of the raw material, of the fuel, of the clinker and of the operation of the installation, the correcting coefficients taking into account differences between the nominal values and measured values of said parameters. The quantity of the theoretical heat (QF) to be supplied to the kiln is calculated by deducting the quantity of heat (QP) supplied to the precalcination chamber from the quantity of total theoretical heat (QT).

Abstract: To optimize the operation of an installation for the manufacture of clinker, which installation comprises a rotary tubular kiln having an open discharge end for the clinker produced in the kiln, a cooler for the clinker connected to the discharge end, a hood covering the open discharge end and the cooler, hot clinker falling from the open discharge end into the cooler in a downward direction and cooling air passing in the cooler through the hot clinker and heated by the hot clinker, and a burner mounted in the hood and extending into the open discharge end of the rotary tubular kiln, the calorific energy radiated by the falling hot clinker is measured across the atmosphere of the hood to establish a control value, the measured control value is compared with a predetermined reference value for the radiated calorific energy, and at least one operating parameter of the installation is controlled in response to the difference between the control and reference values.

Abstract: In order to be able to heat the charging material (3) of a charging material preheater (1) in a more uniform fashion and to higher temperatures, while enjoying short flow paths, the charging material preheater (1) is in the form of a container (2) having a bottom opening (4) which can be closed by an axially displaceable hollow cylinder (13), the interior of the container is subdivided by a grid (6) which falls away in an inclined configuration towards the bottom opening (4), into a receiving space (7) for the charging material and a free lower annular space (8) into which opens an opening (9) for the heating gas, and the hollow cylinder (13) is incorporated into the flow path, by way of gas orifices (16, 17). In addition the heating gases are passed through the charging material (3) alternately in opposite directions.

Abstract: Bulk materials containing volatile constituents are calcined in a two-stage process comprising a first heating stage at de-volatilizing temperature but below calcining temperature during which the material is turned over and mixed to accelerate its bulk heating rate without substantially accelerating local heating rate. The first heating stage is followed by a second heating stage at calcining temperature. A rotary hearth furnace adapted for the above process is divided into outer and inner connecting annular heating zones and has rabble means for turning over and mixing the charge in the outer zone and rabble means for transporting the charge through both zones.

Abstract: A rotary kiln, in particular, a kiln for reburning of lime mud, wherein the drying and intermediate zones of the kiln chamber are furnished in part with turbulence-forming baffle arrangements to produce a turbulent motion in the hot combustion gases and thereby to force the hotter gases, which flow through the axial central region of the kiln, out towards the kiln wall. The kiln shell is additionally furnished in part with thresholds in order to increase the transit time of the material through the kiln and further with lifters and a cog-wheel lining in order to lift the material and bring it into contact with the gases. The burner tube can be furnished with turbulence-forming baffles and the surrounding kiln shell with lifters and with thresholds at both ends of the burner tube. The baffles are preferably conical in cross-section with the apices coincident with the center of the cross-section of the kiln.

Abstract: An improved method for drying particulate low rank coal in a fluidized bed wherein the improvement comprises flowing hot fluidizing gas of varying temperatures upwardly through the fluidized bed so that the hottest fluidizing gas flows upwardly through the coal nearest the coal inlet and the coolest fluidizing gas flows upwardly through the coal nearest the dried coal outlet from the fluidized bed.

Abstract: The operation of an open ring-type baking furnace for the production of shaped carbonaceous bodies and having at least partly grouped fire shafts is such that during the fire reversal phase the negative pressure is regulated in each fire shaft in the transverse walls near the fire reversal units. This regulation takes place, depending on the position of the pre-heating zone, at the transverse wall on the suction unit side or on the baking side of the furnace. In particular in combination with process control means the process leads to a uniform product quality independent of the position of the said body in the furnace.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor is adapted to deprive a combustion gas issuing therefrom of dust by bringing the combustion gas into contact with a filter medium which is a fluidizing solid discharged in conjunction with slagging ash out of the combustor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for narrowing the distribution of residence times of any size particle and equalizing the residence times of large and small particles in fluidized beds. Particles are moved up one fluidized column and down a second fluidized column with the relative heights selected to equalize residence times of large and small particles. Additional pairs of columns are staged to narrow the distribution of residence times and provide complete processing of the material.

Abstract: The invention comprises a sinter belt and a collector, vacuum chambers, a gas cleaning device, an air purifying device, and an exhauster mounted adjacent the belt. Above the sinter belt are mounted assemblies for loading a bed and a charge, and an ignition hearth. Downstream from the sinter belt are mounted a sinter breaker and an inclined chute wherein are mounted vibrating screens communicating with a cooler for a sinter return and for the bed, and an air classifier. The air classifier comprises a fan, a diffuser, a movable grid for varying the speed of the air produced by the fan, and a partition member forming a settling chamber together with the chute. Within the settling chamber is mounted a device for settling coarse fines, said device communicating with the collector through the air purifying device, and with the cooler for the sinter return.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating granular materials which require to be heated to drive off volatile constituents and which require to be cooled, for example foundry sand containing an organic binder. The method comprises the step of maintaining a mass of the material at a treatment temperature lying in the range 240.degree. C.-400.degree. C. for between four and thirty hours. The mass may be initially heated by virtue of a manufacturing process in which the mass has been previously used. Alternatively, the mass may be initially heated by a preheating step such as heating in a fluidized bed. Alternatively, the mass may be heated by being placed in heat transfer relationship with a second mass of the material which has been previously heated, for example, in a fluidized bed. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for roasting fine grained ores such as cement raw meal, lime, dolomite, gypsum, phosphate rock and the like. A suspension preheater consisting of a plurality of serially connected cyclone separators is utilized to preheat the raw material. A suspension type roasting furnace follows the suspension preheater which is, depending upon the material being treated, followed by either a rotary kiln for further heat treatment of the material or by a cooler for cooling the product. The apparatus includes an arrangement for recirculating a portion of the material which has passed through the roasting furnace back into the roasting furnace to increase the degree of roasting. An existing preheater, suspension type calciner, rotary kiln cement clinker producing plant can be converted to the method and apparatus by the addition of an appropriately located splash plate.

Abstract: The rotary combustion bed has a rotary drum with a permeable refractory lining through which air is blown during rotation of the drum and cascading of a charge of material in the drum. The air may flow upwardly through the material at a predetermined fixed angle over an angle through which air is blown into the charge.

Abstract: A plant for pre-heating by fluidizing and for milling coking coal in a treatment chamber is combined, by means of heat a exchanger interposed in a circuit for recirculating heat-conveying gas, with a plant for the dry quenching of hot coke in a quenching chamber. The flow, through the heat exchanger, of recycled quenching fumes of the coke is regulated in dependence on the rate at which the coal is introduced into the treatment chamber by a screw conveyor. An auxiliary heat combustion chamber permits precise control of the temperature in the treatment chamber.

Abstract: In a pneumatic conveying heater or drier for dispersed solid particles, a pulsating device in the form for example of a rotary throttling disk is arranged in the circulation conduit for the conveying stream of hot gas so as to periodically accelerate and decelerate the conveyed solid particles, thus increasing the efficiency of the heat transfer.

Abstract: A preheater in the form of a vertical column for treating a vitrifiable composition introduced into the column at the top and which moves through the column by the force of gravity. The vitrifiable composition, which ultimately moves from the column to feed a glass-smelting furnace is treated through heat exchange with hot gases from a regenerator or recuperator of the smelting furnace which move upwardly through the column, against the flow of the vitrifiable composition. An element is located within the column to form a mixing chamber for hot gases within the region of the element and an upper sloping alignment of the vitrifiable composition which takes shape below the element, as well as to provide means for decelerating movement of the vitrifiable composition within the region of the axis of the column so that movement of the vitrifiable composition throughout the cross section of the column is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A method for processing various organic materials such as lignocellulosics or biomass into more useful states, such as charcoal, carbon black, and coke, and other processed products while producing useful off-gases, includes feeding aggregate pieces of the material to a vertically extending heating chamber and, preferably, closing the chamber to air to control oxygen therein. The pieces are conveyed upwardly through the chamber in a predetermined time by spiral vibratory conveyor. The chamber is heated to a preselected temperature sufficient for gaseous conversion of volatile hydrocarbon constituents of the material. Resultant off-gases are removed from the chamber for further use such as burning thereof for heating the chamber or condensing volatiles, etc.Apparatus for carrying out the method includes preferably first and second such chambers, there being continuous spiral vibrator tray in each chamber carried by a central, vertical support column.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characerized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. Grain turning apparatus is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.