Abstract: A rotary airlock valve has a plurality of material receiving pockets having leading edges that are narrower than the trailing edges thereof, preferably having walls tapering inwardly so as to define a narrowed pocket opening for directing any material expansion due to pressurization to a center of a discharge outlet, to reduce wear and increase seal life.

Abstract: A rotary airlock valve has a plurality of material receiving pockets having leading edges that are narrower than the trailing edges thereof, preferably having walls tapering inwardly so as to define a narrowed pocket opening for directing any material expansion due to pressurization to a center of a discharge outlet, to reduce wear and increase seal life.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying particulate materials in superheated steam in a closed container has a cyclone for separating dust from the steam, the cyclone located in an upper part thereof. The cyclone has openings for receiving at least part of the dust laden steam located in an upper part thereof so that large, moist particles are separated and led back to the processing cells before the steam enters the cyclone.

Abstract: An apparatus for the drying of particulate material in superheated steam in a closed vessel (1) has a number of upwardly open, elongated and substantially vertical processing cells (2) which are placed around a central part with a heat exchanger (3). The last of these processing cells (2) has a closed bottom and is the discharge cell (4), while the remainder (2) have bottoms (5) through which steam can permeate. The processing cells (2), which lie at the side of one another, stand in mutual connection through openings (11) at the lowermost ends of the cells, so that the particulate material which is dried by the superheated steam which is blown up from the heat exchanger (3) through the steam-permeable bottoms (5) can pass from one processing cell (2) to the next through the openings (11). The discharge cell (4) and/or the last of the processing cells (2) are provided with one or more substantially vertical plates for restraining and/or controlling the flow of particulate material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the removal of liquid from particulate material by evaporation through the supply of heat, said heat being transferred substantially by superheated vapours or steam of the liquids existing in the particulate material, and where said method is executed in a substantially closed system. The particulate material is supplied continuously to a process chamber which is configured as an annual or partly annular chamber (1) which lies in a substantially horizontal manner, where the superheated vapours are introduced from below and up through openings (11) in a bottom (10) in the annular chamber, so that the particulate material is brought into movement by the superheated vapours, and such that a transport of the particulate material takes place through the annular chamber (1).

Abstract: Apparatus for the drying of particulate material in superheated steam in a closed vessel (1). The vessel consists of a number of upwardly open, elongated and substantially vertical processing cells (2) which are placed around a central part with a heat exchanger (3). The last of these processing cells (2) has a closed bottom and is the discharge cell (4), while the remainder (2) have bottoms (5) through which steam can permeate. The processing cells (2), which lie at the side of one another, stand in mutual connection through openings (11) at the lowermost ends of the cells, so that the particulate material which is dried by the superheated steam which is blown up from the heat exchanger (3) through the steam-permeable bottoms (5) can pass from one processing cell (2) to the next through said openings (11).