Abstract: Sulfur oxides are removed from a preheater waste gas stream by reacting the sulfur oxides with lime recovered from the off gas stream in a calcining furnace. The method is particularly adaptable for use in a cement manufacturing plant wherein the sulfur dioxides in the waste gases result from the combustion of fossil fuels used for process heat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heat treatment of fine calcium carbonate bearing material comprising preheating fine material containing a coarse and a fine fraction. The preheated material is delivered into a fluidized bed calcining means wherein the coarse fraction is calcined and the fine fraction is delivered by process air to an adjacent vertically arranged gas flash calciner furnace in which it is calcined.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides are removed from a preheater waste gas stream by reacting the sulfur oxides with lime recovered from the off gas stream in a calcining furnace. The method is particularly adaptable for use in a cement manufacturing plant wherein the sulfur dioxides in the waste gases result from the combustion of fossil fuels used for process heat.

Abstract: A process of treating dust from a cement manufacturing operation. The process comprises adding carbon bearing material to the dust catch from a cement manufacturing operation to form a mixture, which is formed into nodules and sizing the nodules to obtain a feed material having a selected size range. The nodules are directed as feed material to a fluidized bed which is maintained by passing air for combustion upwardly through a bed of material. The material is thermal processed within the fluidized bed in a reducing atmosphere by supplying fuel for combustion in the fluidized bed to maintain temperatures sufficient to volatilize alkali and sulfur compounds in the feed material and produce a product having an increased concentration of cement forming compounds and reduced alkali and sulfur compounds as compared to the feed material. The reduced clinker is then re-oxidized to minimize/reverse adverse color and mineralogy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus used in said method, to produce aggregate products from waste material streams. The method comprises combining an encapsulation material with waste materials to form a mix suitable for granulation. This mix is then feed to a granulation means to form particles having a size suitable for thermal treatment in a bed thermal processing means, which can be a fluid bed system or a spouting bed system. In the bed thermal processing apparatus the particles are converted into an aggregate product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for the heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) to form burnt lime (CaO). In the method of the present invention lime sludge is dried in a gas dryer means, to produce a dried lime sludge. The dried lime sludge is separated from the gases and thereafter is first fed to a compacting means wherein it is compacted into a plurality of substantially uniform bodies which are thereafter fed to a shaft kiln in which the compacted dried lime sludge is converted to active burnt lime.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a comminution device suitable for use in a cooling apparatus for cooling crushable material. The device is located at a source for such crushable material and typically comprises at least two rolls in series, which are crushing rolls wherein material is crushed in a material crushing area located between said two crushing rolls. It is a advantageous feature of the device of the present invention in that the position of at least one of the crushing rolls is adjustable relative to the other crushing roll to thereby change the dimension of the material crushing area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve of the iris diaphragm type.The valve comprises first and second annular body members having respective first and second recesses therein and an annular recess between such first and second body members. A flexible valve closure sleeve is provided with first and second annular mounting flanges at opposite ends and an intermediate flange. The first and second mounting flanges are engaged respectively in the first and second recesses, and the intermediate flange disposed in the annular recess defined between the first and second body members so as to be angularly moveable relative thereto and relative to the first and second annular mounting flanges. Operating means are connected with the intermediate flange for moving the flange between closed and open positions corresponding to closed and open positions of the valve closure sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for the heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) to form burnt lime (CaO). In the method of the present invention a lime sludge feed is entrained in and thereafter dried in a gas flash dryer means to produce a dried lime sludge. The dried lime sludge is separated from the gases and thereafter is fed to a rotary kiln in which the dried lime sludge is converted to active burnt lime. In order to maintain the flow of gas in the flash dryer means at a predetermined velocity in order to entrain all the lime sludge feed in the gas flow, an adjustable portion of the separated gases are recycled through the flash dryer means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for roasting gold containing ore in which a flash furnace means is provided, in particular a gas suspension furnace for roasting the ore. Hot gas and the gold containing ore to be roasted are supplied to the furnace means, wherein the hot gas roasts the ore within the furnace means at temperatures between about 500.degree. C. and 700.degree. C. while the ore is suspended in the hot gas, after which the roasted ore is discharged from the furnace means along with the hot gas. In the apparatus of the present the ore to be calcined may optionally be preheated, prior to the ore entering the furnace means, by suspending the fresh ore in hot gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for the heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) to form burnt lime (CaO). In the method of the present invention lime sludge is dried in a gas dryer means, to produce a dried lime sludge. The dried lime sludge is separated from the gases and thereafter is first fed to a compacting means wherein it is compacted into a plurality of substantially uniform bodies which are thereafter fed to a shaft kiln in which the compacted dried lime sludge is converted to active burnt lime.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a grate plate utilized in a cooling apparatus.Substantially the entire surface area of the exposed surface is defined by alternating rows of a plurality of (1) substantially rectangular hollow air distribution plenums that travel substantially the entire length of the exposed area in a direction parallel to the movement of solid material through the cooling apparatus. The air distribution plenums have two side walls and a top surface with which the solid material transported to the cooling apparatus comes into contact, and (2) a plurality of pockets that also travel substantially the entire length of the exposed area in a direction parallel to the movement of solid material through the cooling apparatus. The said side walls of the air distribution plenums each have a plurality of air outlets or portals located thereon through which cooling air passes from the hollow interior of the air distribution plenum into a pocket located adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A control valve for a particulate material blender which permits either blending or bypassing with pressurized gas or discharging the material without pressurized gas, but prevents undesirable interconnections. A cylindrical body with four access ports spaced around the body has a rotor with connecting passages within the body. In one embodiment, the rotor interconnects either the gas entry port to the blender port alone, the gas entry port to the blender and bypass ports, or the blender port to the discharge port as it rotates into one of its three positions. A suitable rotation means, for example, two rotary actuators, are used to secure the three positions of the valve, while preventing any other rotational positions.

Abstract: A process for the continuous production of a calcined product containing a high level of reactive oxide valves, from a preheated raw material containing calcium carbonate values, said process comprising,(a) introducing the preheated raw material to the bottom of a generally vertically oriented gas suspension calcining furnace, whereby said preheated raw material is thereafter suspended in an ascending stream of heated gas to thereby pass vertically upwardly through the gas suspension calcining furnace;(b) passing the ascending gas stream through a plurality of burners, into which fuel and air are injected, that are vertically spaced from each other, in the gas suspension furnace, at a number of levels in the flow direction of the heated gas, and(c) collecting the calcined product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending a material feed and/or separating debris from a material feed is disclosed in which a feed separator is used with a blender and/or debris separator. The feed separator separates a feed from the conveying air flow which conveys the feed and the conveying air flow, devoid of feed, is then used to blend the conveyed feed and/or separate debris therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a grate plate utilized in a cooling apparatus. Substantially the entire surface area of the exposed surface, that is, the surface of the grate plate that is not overlapped by a preceding grate plate, is recessed from its outside perimeter. The recessed exposed area is defined by alternating rows of (1) substantially tubular, hollow air distribution conduits that travel substantially the entire length of the recessed exposed area in a direction parallel to the movement of solid material through the cooling apparatus. The tubular air distribution conduits have two side walls and a top surface with which the solid material transported to the cooling apparatus comes into contact, and (2) narrow, open, secondary air distribution channels that also travel substantially the entire length of the recessed exposed area in a direction parallel to the movement of solid material through the cooling apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating debris from a material product by recirculating the product in a product chamber with a fluid flow and using the fluid flow to entrain and remove debris.

Abstract: An integrated process blending apparatus which blends particulate material and also automatically controls the flow of material into the blender and out to the associated processing equipment. Load cells attached to the blender vessel are used to control the entry of material into the blender, while the pressure drop in the blender output pipe is used to control an output deflector to either remove or recycle material within the blender. The blender is also made more effective by dividing it into vertical compartments with separators which have angled portions preferably in their lower regions to cause different downward flow velocities in each compartment, and by creating a multistage blender by stacking sets of offset compartments one on top of another.

Abstract: A method to operate a flash calcination unit with both atmosphere and temperature control is described for mineral processing requirements and other atmosphere controlled processes. The method can be used to process phosphate, gold ore or activated carbon. The critical steps of the method involve an initial mixing of fine material combined with stoichiometric burning using at least one staged combustion furnace in a vertically oriented suspension calcination furnace. This effects control of oxygen or atmosphere in the combustion furnace with attendant control of temperature in that furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for blending solid particulate material in a vessel which includes a center lift column and a first downcomer channel which includes n successive vertical sections and n flow ports respective located at a top portion of the n sections. The n sections include withdrawal structure for providing a volumetric outlet flow rate which includes a flow rate contribution from each of the n sections which is 1/n of the outlet flow rate. The apparatus can also include a second channel which includes a plurality of vertically spaced inlets for receiving particulate material from different vertical locations within a blending vessel of the apparatus and an outlet for returning particulate material to the lower part of the vessel, with each of the inlets of the second channel including a baffle extending into an internal flow area of the channel.