Abstract: The device according to the invention for separating a solid material and a gas substantially comprises an ascending conduit for conducting a gas-solid material suspension having a solid material supply port for feeding in a solid material and a gas supply port for feeding in a gas, a descending helical and/or spiral conduit, in which the gas-solid material suspension is separated into a solid material flow and a gas flow by centrifugal forces, a diverter head that connects the ascending conduit with the helical and/or spiral conduit, wherein in the region of the diverter head at least one bend is provided in the conduit configuration, connected to the end of the helical and/or spiral conduit a solid material conduit for discharging the flow of solid material and also connected to the end of the helical and/or spiral conduit a gas conduit for discharging the flow of gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertical furnace for fabricating an artificially lightweight fine-aggregates in that the aggregates can be fired in the vertical furnace in a floating state, so that the contacting time between the aggregates can be minimized, thereby preventing the adhesion between the aggregates and manufacturing the artificially lightweight fine-aggregates as an insulating concrete for building material, sound-absorbing materials, and lagging material.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the separation of volatile components from a feed material.

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 method and plant for heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) formed by the causticizing process during the manufacture of paper pulp. The lime sludge is dried and pulverized in a first process stage and preheated in a second process stage by means of hot exhaust gas coming from a kiln. In order to ensure that the temperature in the second process stage does not exceed a predetermined temperature lying within the range from 400.degree.-600.degree. C., the relationship between the amount of energy available in the exhaust gas for preheating in the second process stage and the amount of accumulated energy in the material which is to be preheated is regulated.

Abstract: A material drying system includes a pulse combustor having a combustion chamber and an elongate tailpipe forming a resonant system with the combustion chamber. The tailpipe has an inlet for material to be dried and an outlet through which the material is discharged in a pulsating gas stream when the combustor is in operation. The tailpipe discharges into a vertical drying duct which leads to a cyclone separator. Part of the exhaust gas leaving the cyclone separator is recycled and used to cool the combustion chamber and tailpipe. Part of the dried material leaving the cyclone separator can be mixed with new incoming wet material to lower the overall moisture content of the material to be dried. The pulse combustor provides a substantial portion of the motive force required to operate the system.

Abstract: In this method and this apparatus exit gases to be purified from kiln installations are first of all dedusted in a first filter stage and then in at least one further filter stage they are purified of the NH.sub.x compounds and/or volatile pollutant elements and compounds with at least partial reduction of NO.sub.x with the aid of a carbonaceous filter medium. In order that the filter dust precipitated in the first filter stage can without problems either be re-used in a suitable manner of deposited in simple refuse dumps, the proportion of low-boiling pollutants and pollutant compounds in this precipitated filter dust is reduced by successive method steps in which the said pollutants are evaporated out of the filter dust, the quantities of dust are precipitated out of these vapors and the dedusted vapours are passed through a filter unit containing a carbonaceous filter medium.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a bed of pyroprocessed particulate material such as lime received from a source as a kiln, the cooler including a shaft with one or more underlying hoppers through which the material flows as cooling air is forced upwardly therethrough. Each of the hoppers has an associated air inlet assembly comprising compactly stacked air inlet rings concentric with and symmetrically shaped to the hopper entry. The air inlet rings are supplied with air from ducts which are provided with dampers by which the amount of air fed to each horizontal cross sectional segment of the hopper can be controlled. A deflector ring formed of an inclined particle flow deflector surface equalizes the rate of draw above by modifying the relative areas affected.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a bed of pyroprocessed particulate material such as lime received from a source such as a kiln, the cooler including a shaft with one or more underlying hoppers through which the material flows as cooling air is forced upwardly therethrough. The invention embodies hoppers with uniform slopes at any given elevation, dual hopper slopes with one being extremely steep, internal flow guiding means, as well as an octagonal or partially octagonal wall configuration and matching scalloped octagonal hoppers. Also included is the concept of providing substantially equal areas of draw in any angular segment about the vertical center line of discharge from a hopper or cluster of hoppers. The resultant is more uniform flow of material down through the cooler and correspondingly more efficient cooling. Alternative embodiments include hopper transition pieces in lieu of the cooling shaft being constructed in an octagonal or partially octagonal configuration.

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.