Abstract: An adaptive control system for a bulk material dryer measures the thermal demand of bulk material to be dried in a dryer and adjusts the thermal output of the dryer to match the measured demand. The system contemplates that the dryer will require a response period to fully meet a change in demand and coordinates the introduction of material into the dryer with that response time. The system is automatically responsive to changes in both the moisture level and mass flow rate of the bulk material to be dried, adjusting the thermal output of the dryer to changes in each of these variables. The system preferably includes a feedback sensor used to make final adjustments in the dryer output.

Abstract: A method of drying wet coal fines smaller than 28 mesh in size employs both a vibrating fluidized bed type dryer and a coal fired burner for supplying hot drying gases to the dryer. A regenerative separator is interposed between the coal fired burner and the fluidized bed type dryer to satisfactorily remove particle matter from the gases without unacceptable pressure losses. Hot gases exhausted from the fluidized bed type dryer are also cleansed to remove particulate coal particles which are used as fuel for the coal fired burner.