Abstract: A non-invasive NMR based apparatus for measuring a food attribute (moisture, sugar content) in food products comprises a magnetic chamber, an RF pulsing device attached to the magnetic chamber, a sensor receiver, and a data processing unit in communication with the sensor receiver. The pulsing device exposes the food ingredients/snacks to an RF field and produces an NMR response signal that is detected by the sensor receiver. The data processing unit quantitatively measures a food attribute of the food product based on the NMR response signal.

Abstract: Kinetic energy devices, such as fans or blowers, are selected or controlled to attain a determined optimal overall average airflow for a volume within a livestock building to satisfy one or more predetermined livestock production objectives.

Abstract: A gas-fired heater assembly for use in conjunction with a shrink wrap chamber or tunnel, including a gas-fired heater assembly, said gas-fired heater assembly incorporating an air intake, and having a gas port for injection of combustive gas into the heat chamber for combustion, the heated air combustion directed into the length of an associated heat box, said heat box having a designed opening for uniform dissemination of heated air into a hot air envelop, said hot air envelop being operatively associated with an air circulating blower, said air circulating blower directing air through the regions of the heat box for mixing of the circulating air with the heated air, and directing said mixture of heated air out of the hot air envelop and into the shrink wrap chamber or tunnel for shrinking polymer film about packaged goods for shipment and/or storage.

Abstract: A drying furnace (20) for drying an object (11) by hot air is provided with a heater (36, 38, 43, 45) that applies radiant heat to a hard-heating region (35, 42) having a larger heat capacity than the other region (37, 44) in the object (11) so as to heat the hard-heating region (35, 42) to a temperature approximate to a temperature of the other region (37, 44).

Abstract: An anneal module for annealing semiconductor material wafers and similar substrates reduces particle contamination and oxygen ingress while providing uniform heating including for 500° C. processes. The anneal module may include a process chamber formed in a metal body having internal cooling lines. A hot plate has a pedestal supported on a thermal choke on the body. A gas distributor in the lid over the hot plate flows gas uniformly over the wafer. A transfer mechanism moves a hoop to shift the wafer between the hot plate and a cold plate.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a portable gas-fired heater comprising a ousing, a burner assembly, and a carbon dioxide detector system. The housing may, at least, partially enclose one or more fuel sources. The burner assembly can be enclosed by, and recessed into, the housing.

Abstract: A system for ashing carbon includes a vertically oriented burner column having a first end and an opposing end with an interior chamber therebetween. The burner column has an aperture at the first end and a suction port proximal to the second end, the aperture and the suction port in communication with the interior chamber. The system also comprises a porous media screen located in the interior chamber and positioned between the first end and the second end of the burner column. The media screen is adapted to hold ignited carbon containing a precious metal therein. The system also contains a pump that is coupled to the suction port. The pump is configured to apply a negative pressure to the interior chamber of the burner column to draw air into the interior chamber via the aperture. The drawn air passes through the ignited carbon at a desired flow rate to achieve a temperature of the carbon suitable for ashing the carbon.

Abstract: A thermal method for stabilizing a load of wood, in particular timber, including: a phase of treatment of the load of wood in a treatment kiln by a gaseous treatment flow; generation of a gaseous treatment flow at high temperature from a heat generator independent of the treatment kiln and recovery of the loaded gaseous flow after treatment.

Abstract: A chamber apparatus including a chamber which accommodates a substrate having a coating film formed thereon; a first heating part which is accommodated in the chamber and disposed on a first face side of the substrate; a second heating part which is accommodated in the chamber and disposed on a second face side of the substrate opposite to the first face; and a pressure control part which is capable of pressurizing and depressurizing inside of the chamber in a heated state.

Abstract: In the method according to the invention for operating a cement plant, the raw meal is preheated in a preheating zone, the preheated material is precalcined in a calcining zone and the precalcined material is finally sintered in a sintering zone. The cement plant is operated in such a manner that the precalcined material which is supplied to the sintering zone has an SO3 concentration of at least 5.5% by mass and a CaSO4 proportion of at least 75%, preferably 90%, of the total salt content.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method for automatic calibration of dental furnaces, there is made available a dental furnace comprising a control unit adapted to control the dental furnace for performing a firing process defined by firing process parameters such as e.g. the temperature and/or a temporal temperature curve and/or a temperature gradient and/or a vacuum in a firing chamber of the dental furnace. There is provided at least one calibration firing-object sample made of a dental material, where said dental material, after said calibration firing-object sample has been subjected to a calibration firing-object process with predetermined firing process parameters, has a defined desired color stored e.g. in the control unit. Further, a color measuring device is used which, for transmission of measurement signals and/or measurement results, is operatively connected to the control unit.

Abstract: An electronic communication unit such as a mobile phone comprises a processor for operating said unit; and an ambient air quality monitoring sensor; characterized in that said processor is configured to operate said unit in a first mode of operation during which a) monitoring of said air quality occurs and a level of air quality is assessed against pre-determined levels; and b) ordinary communication routines are activated provided an acceptable category of pre-determined levels is identified; and in a second mode of operation during which a) monitoring of said air quality occurs and a level of air quality is assessed against pre-determined levels; and b) an alarm routine is launched interrupting the ordinary communication routines once a level of ambient air quality is assessed to warrant the user's attention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the controlled operation of an industrial oven which is heated in a regenerative manner and which comprises an oven chamber, in particular a melting tank, in particular for glass, having the following steps: injecting fuel into the oven chamber via at least one fuel injector, which is designed to inject fuel, practically without combustion air in particular, conducting combustion air to the oven chamber in a first period duration and conducting exhaust gas (AG) out of the oven chamber in a second period duration separately from the fuel in a periodically alternating manner by means of a left regenerator and right regenerator which are associated with the at least one fuel injector and which are designed to regeneratively store heat from the exhaust gas and transmit heat to the combustion air. A supply of the combustion air is automatically controlled by means of a control loop.

Abstract: A combustion system and method for operating a combustion system, such as a furnace or boiler. The method includes providing a burner system having one or more burner elements configured to combust solid fuel and one or more oxygen providing devices configured to introduce oxygen into the near burner zone of one or more burner flames. A sensor is provided and arranged and disposed to measure a flame parameter in the near burner zone of the burner flame associated with one or more the burner elements. The flame parameter is measured with the sensor and an oxygen flow is determined in response to the measured flame parameter. Oxygen flow is introduced to one or more locations in the combustion system with the one or more oxygen providing devices.

Abstract: The method for producing a fired body of the invention has the steps of: preparing a starting material mixture; molding the mixture to obtain a green molded body; a first heating step to make the molded body contain residual carbon-containing substances in a furnace by increasing the temperature of the furnace while introducing an oxygen containing gas; and a second heating step to obtain a fired body by further increasing the temperature of the furnace without introducing the oxygen containing gas; wherein the conditions for the first heating step are set so that when the molded body is allowed to stand after the first heating step in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at 900° C., the temperature at the center section of the molded body is at least 20° C. higher than the temperature of the atmosphere in the furnace.

Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate includes a substrate, a gate electrode layer disposed on the substrate, an insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer disposed on the insulating layer, a source/drain electrode layer, an organic-acrylic photoresist layer, a passivation layer and an electrically conductive layer. The insulating layer is disposed on the gate electrode layer and the substrate. The source/drain electrode layer is disposed on the insulating layer and the oxide semiconductor layer, and a gap is formed through the source/drain electrode layer for exposing the oxide semiconductor layer therethrough. The organic-acrylic photoresist layer covers the source/drain electrode layer. The passivation layer is disposed on the substrate, the oxide semiconductor layer and the organic-acrylic photoresist layer.

Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus including a treatment chamber housing a silicon substrate, a heater being provided in the treatment chamber and heating the silicon substrate, and an atmosphere adjustment mechanism reducing a concentration of oxygen contained in an atmosphere inside the treatment chamber to less than an oxygen concentration in the air. The atmosphere adjustment mechanism is provided with an oxygen trap, for example.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for heating a slurry to increase a solids concentration of the slurry while maintaining the viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a fuel slurry preparation system having a slurry tank configured to hold a fuel slurry, the fuel slurry having a solid fuel and a liquid. The fuel slurry preparation system also includes a heat source and a controller configured to control the heat source to heat the fuel slurry to decrease a viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity.

Abstract: A dental oven comprising a firing chamber for the heat treatment of dental restoration parts. The firing chamber is connected to a negative pressure source via a suction line. A valve arrangement is located between the firing chamber and the suction line with the aid of which the suction line is closable towards the firing chamber in order to maintain a negative pressure in the firing chamber. The suction line between the valve arrangement and the negative pressure source is ventilatable via an ambient air connection.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling a phase transformation temperature of a shape memory alloy is provided. The device includes a primary wire composed of the shape memory alloy. The primary wire defines first and second ends, the first end being attached to a fixed structure and the second end being able to displace. An activation source is thermally coupled to the wire and is operable to selectively cause the primary wire to reversibly transform from a Martensitic phase to an Austenitic phase during a cycle. A loading element is operatively connected to the primary wire and configured to selectively increase a tensile load on the primary wire when an ambient temperature is at or above a threshold temperature, thereby increasing the phase transformation temperature of the primary wire.

Abstract: A thermostat control device is disclosed. The thermostat control device includes a temperature sensor, a cartridge sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the cartridge sensor. The controller further includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing processor executable instructions configured to: generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal; analyze a cartridge sensor signal received from the cartridge sensor against a threshold; and generate, if the cartridge sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal.

Abstract: The gasifier operates to mix a start up heat source with crude syngas combustion for driving gasification of waste. Combustion flue gas can be maintained above 650° C. until reaching a quench to prevent formation of dioxins. Excess heat is liberated through a heat recovery unit. The gasifier can operate in a batch mode to process small batches of waste efficiently for small installations, such as ships, apartment buildings, hospitals and residences.

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: In the method according to the invention for operating a cement plant, the raw meal is preheated in a preheating zone, the preheated material is precalcined in a calcining zone and the precalcined material is finally sintered in a sintering zone. The cement plant is operated in such a manner that the precalcined material which is supplied to the sintering zone has an SO3 concentration of at least 5.5% by mass and a CaSO4 proportion of at least 75%, preferably 90%, of the total salt content.

Abstract: There are described various methods and circuits for trimming the parameter value of a thermally mutable electrical component in two directions. A sequence of heat pulses is selected as a function of thermal history using an adaptive trimming algorithm, where parameters of the sequence of heat pulses are based on a resulting impact of previous heating pulses. Direction of trimming, trimming increment, and remaining trimming distance can all be used to determine the parameters of succeeding heat pulses, wherein the parameters of the pulses can be, for example, amplitude, duration, and time interval between pulses.

Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus including a treatment chamber housing a silicon substrate, a heater being provided in the treatment chamber and heating the silicon substrate, and an atmosphere adjustment mechanism reducing a concentration of oxygen contained in an atmosphere inside the treatment chamber to less than an oxygen concentration in the air. The atmosphere adjustment mechanism is provided with an oxygen trap, for example.

Abstract: A control system for an oxy-fuel combustion process is disclosed for use with a boiler or furnace which dynamically controls the flame temperature of each burner involved in the combustion process to dynamically maximize the flame temperature. The boiler or furnace used in conjunction with the combustion process in accordance with the present invention is configured with a radiant, i.e. line of sight, heat zone and a convective heat zone. By dynamically maximizing the flame temperature of the various burners within the boiler or furnace, the radiant heat transfer is optimized. By optimizing the radiant heat transfer within the boiler or furnace, the efficiency of the boiler or furnace is significantly improved.

Abstract: In a method for increasing the throughput of packages of waste material of a high caloric value of rotary kiln plants which include a rotary tube with a combustion chamber and a post combustion chamber to which the combustion gases from the rotary tube are supplied and which includes at least one burner supplied by gas from a gas supply, the waste packages are supplied to the rotary tube and burned therein with oxygen containing gas and the combustion gas flows to the post combustion chamber for post combustion, the combustion process being continuously monitored in the kiln and the post combustion chamber and controlled by adjustment of the combustion conditions in the kiln and the post combustion chamber.

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: Apparatus and operating methods are provided for controlled atmosphere furnace systems. In one possible embodiment, hydrogen is injected from a hydrogen source to an enclosure. The hydrogen is circulated within the enclosure from a gas inlet to a gas outlet. A temperature is raised within the enclosure to a predetermined threshold. Hydrogen is pumped from the gas outlet to the gas inlet with an electrochemical hydrogen pump. The electrochemical hydrogen pump has a first electrode in fluid communication with the gas outlet, and a second electrode in fluid communication with the gas inlet. An electrical potential is provided between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode has a higher electrical potential with respect to zero than the second electrode. Various methods, features and system configurations are discussed.

Abstract: A platform has an opening therein. The platform is adapted to receive a heat source therein. The platform is rotatably disposed about the heat source. A motor is operatively coupled to the platform for rotating the platform about the heat source. A temperature sensor senses the temperature at a predetermined position on the interior surface of a barrel disposed on said platform and provides a temperature output. A central processing unit has a clock for measuring an interval during which a barrel is exposed to the heat source. A database stores toasting recipes, which are a function of time and temperature. The central processing unit receives an input from the sensor and clock and utilizes the recipe stored in the database to provide an output to an alarm if the sensed temperature during the input time interval does not substantially correspond the recipe as stored in the database.

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: Apparatus and methods that minimize surface defect development in silicon wafers during thermal processing at relatively high temperatures at which silicon wafers are annealed and at less extreme temperature, or for other purposes. The apparatus and methods have utility to horizontally-disposed furnaces for silicon wafers and to vertically-oriented furnaces in which larger wafers can be thermally processed. A selectively-sealable process tube encloses silicon wafers during heating of the silicon wafers to a predetermined temperature, and a heating atmosphere supply system induces through the process tube a positive flow of a process gas, such as hydrogen or argon, that is non-reactive with solid silicon at the predetermined temperature. A process tube outlet vents gas from the process tube, and an impurity sensor in the process tube outlet detects oxygen and moisture in the vented gas to verify the purity of the atmosphere surrounding the wafers during thermal processing.

Abstract: A fuel delivering terminal (1) is disclosed adapted to be connected to a delivery end of a combustion lance (3) of lime regenerating ovens, wherein D is the external diameter of the terminal (1) and is greater that the internal diameter d of the delivery end of the combustion lance (3); a combustion lance equipped with the terminal (1) and a system and a process for controlling the fuel supply flow through such lances are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heating furnace for calcining an object to be heated. The heating furnace includes a wall defining a furnace space and configured to receive the object in the furnace space, and a heating device configured to raise a temperature within the furnace space. The heating furnace also includes an oxygen supply channel configured to introduce gases containing oxygen into the furnace space. The oxygen supply channel is formed as an opening in a part of the wall surrounding the furnace space. The heating furnace further includes a gas discharge channel fluidly connected to the furnace space and configured to discharge gases in the furnace space to an outside of the furnace space, and a measurement device installed in the gas discharge channel and configured to measure properties of the gases passing through the gas discharge channel.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring a combustion process, in which, in a oven, a substance arranged in a bed of the oven is converted under the supply of heat by way of firing by a flame, data of the flame and/or the substance in the bed being recorded by way of at least one sensor, the input of heat into the bed is determined from the data recorded by the sensor and is used for quality determination.

Abstract: A controller for a kiln plant, typically a cement plant, has a thermodynamic controller which measures a number of variables including the kiln hood temperature and one or more output gas concentrations, and controls the fuel input to the kiln to maintain the hood temperature within a desired range and a main impeller of the kiln to maintain the measured gas concentrations within a predetermined range. The invention includes a quality controller wich controls the amount of 3CaO.SiO2 present in clinker produced by the plant. The controller comprises an inner controller which controls free-lime content in the clinker and a thermodynamic outer controller.

Abstract: The method of preparing an oxide superconducting wire comprises steps of preparing a wire by coating raw material powder for a Bi—Pb—Sr—Ca—Cu—O based oxide superconductor including a 2223 phase with a metal and heat treating the wire in a pressurized atmosphere containing oxygen in a prescribed partial pressure, and the total pressure of the pressurized atmosphere is at least 0.5 MPa. The pressure heat treatment apparatus comprises a pressure furnace storing and heat treating a target in a pressurized atmosphere, a pressure regulator for measuring the total pressure in the pressure furnace, an oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration in the pressure furnace and a controller for controlling the oxygen partial pressure in the pressure furnace in response to the total pressure measured by the pressure regulator and the oxygen concentration measured by the oxygen concentration meter.

Abstract: A system for regulating temperature of a post exposure baking process is provided. The system includes one or more light sources, each light source directing light to one or more gratings being baked and hardened on a wafer. Light reflected from the gratings is collected by a measuring system, which processes the collected light. Light passing through the gratings may similarly be collected by the measuring system, which processes the collected light. The collected light is indicative of the baking and hardening of the respective portions of the wafer. The measuring system provides baking and hardening related data to a processor that determines the baking and hardening of the respective portions of the wafer. The system also includes a plurality of temperature controlling devices, each such device corresponds to a respective portion of the wafer and provides for the heating and/or cooling thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for combustion of fuel in a boiler in which flue gasses are produced. The boiler includes a source of fuel, a source of air, and a controller for controlling the ratio of the source of air and the source of fuel inputted into the boiler. A sensor is used for measuring the concentration of oxygen in the flue gasses. The controller is adapted to calculate the amount of air entering the boiler based on the amount of oxygen in the flue gasses to thereby adjust the air to fuel ratio to include calculated air input and air input from the source of air. A preferred fuel is pulverized coal. The method and system provide for the air to fuel ratio to be adjusted to optimize efficiency as well as to minimize NOx production.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing adjustable ratio control for a furnace with a plurality of workpieces located within a furnace and a sensor for determining the temperature of each of the workpieces. Adjustable ratio control is performed by controlling the temperature of an atmosphere of the furnace wherein a first workpiece with a lower temperature is heated at a higher rate than a second workpiece with a higher temperature.

Abstract: A ladle after teeming for a continuous casting and a subsequent slag discharge is mounted on a ladle truck and then moved by the ladle truck to a tapping station. The ladle on the ladle truck is then stationed over a predetermined stand-by time and is then immediately moved to a tapping position to receive a molten steel from a converter. The ladle is quickly heated during the stand-by time, by a regenerative-type burner system carried by a ladle lid which is attached to the ladle to cover the top opening of the ladle. This allows the tapping temperature of the molten steel to be set to a low level, offering advantages such as a remarkable reduction in the consumption of carbonaceous materials as the temperature controller, as well as extended life of ladle refractories through suppression of thermal attack. At the same time, consumption of fuel gas for heating the ladle by the burner system is reduced to contribute to saving of energy.

Abstract: A method of controlling a furnace pressure for preventing air from intruding to a heating furnace, a method of stable operation during low combustion load of heat regenerating burners and a method of measuring concentration of an atmospheric gas in a heating furnace are proposed. When the heat recovered with burners each attached with a heat regeneration body is used for heating the combustion air of burners at a combustion state, the suction ratio of the exhaust gas from the burners to the heat regeneration body is adjusted to control the furnace pressure in accordance with a combustion load on an entire heating furnace. The furnace pressure is controlled by adjusting the flow rate of dilution air in accordance with the temperature of the exhaust gas in the exhaust stack on the inlet side of a recuperator in the heating furnace and the combustion load on the heating furnace.

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 processing apparatus capable of separating and recovering resins and metals, respectively, from an object being processed, which has resins and metals as its constituent, comprises a first gastight area (102), in which temperature and pressure are regulated so as to permit selective thermal decomposition of resins from the object (150) being processed, a second gastight area (103), which is partitioned from the first gastight area by an openable and closeable partition (105C) and in which temperature and pressure are regulated so as to permit selective vaporization of metals from the object, first recovering chamber (111) connected to the first gastight area for recovering gases produced by thermal decomposition of resins, and second recovering chamber (115) connected to the second gastight area for recovering vaporized metals.

Abstract: A method for controlling kiln pressure for a shuttle kiln having an exhaust gas fan and an exhaust gas damper in an exhaust gas passage includes the steps of performing a control operation for controlling the number of revolution of the exhaust gas fan to control flow rate of the exhaust gas to maintain the kiln pressure at a predetermined pressure, and performing a control operation for adjusting opening of the exhaust gas damper based on the number of revolution of the exhaust gas fan. The method can expand the control range of exhaust gas flow, and operation with energy saving efficiency can be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing cement clinker using a high sulfur fuel includes a wet rotary kiln, at least one sulfur analyzer, a controller, and a burner. The wet rotary kiln has a first end and a second end and processes a slurry of a raw material mixed with a certain quantity of coarse grinded high sulfur fuel received at the first end to produce cement clinker. The sulfur analyzer is produces a measure of the sulfur content of the cement clinker. The controller receives the measure from the sulfur analyzer and controls a concentration of oxygen in the kiln based on the measured sulfur content in the clinker end product. The burner is installed in the kiln at the second end and operates to burn a high sulfur fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to controls for a multi-zone reflow oven. In the present invention a plurality of infra red thermal scanners are located at critical points along the path which a substrate passes in a reflow oven so as to generate an actual solder paste time/temperature profile as a substrate passes through the zones of the reflow oven. The actual temperature of the solder paste is determined at critical zones for generating feedback control signals. The time/temperature profile is stored for transfer to a different reflow oven so as to effect the identical solder paste time/temperature curve on the same or a different oven.

Abstract: A method of producing cement clinker using a high sulfur fuel includes introducing raw material into a Lelep-Lepol travelling grate; drying and heating the raw material in the Lelep-Lepol travelling grate while passing the raw material through the Lelep-Lepol travelling grate; transferring the heated and dried raw material from the Lelep-Lepol travelling grate to a rotary kiln; combusting a high sulfur fuel in the rotary kiln; passing the raw material through the rotary kiln in the presence of the combusting fuel so as to sinter the raw material to form a sintered material; measuring a sulfur content of the sintered material; and controlling an excess concentration of oxygen in the rotary kiln based on the measured sulfur content of the clinker end product.

Abstract: A dryer is provided which is adapted to receive and dry polymeric material. The dryer comprises a support structure, a drying hopper assembly, a polymeric material supply device and a controller. The drying hopper assembly includes a drying hopper having an inlet for receiving wet polymeric material to be dried and an outlet through which dry polymeric material exits the hopper, and load cell apparatus associated with the support structure and the drying hopper for sensing the weight of the drying hopper and any polymeric material contained therein. The load cell apparatus generates first signals representative of the weight of the drying hopper and any contents it may have. The polymeric material supply device is adapted to supply wet polymeric material to the drying hopper through the material inlet. The controller is coupled to the polymeric material supply device and the load cell apparatus.