Abstract: A fluid-bed drying unit, particularly but not exclusively used in the field of tobacco drying comprising a drying chamber having a loading inlet and an outlet for discharging the product and provided with openings for the passage of a drying medium. The drying chamber has a substantially tubular shape extending along a longitudinal axis and a substantially triangular vertical cross-sectional shape; the longitudinal axis is substantially inclined with respect to a horizontal axis and means are provided to inject a drying fluid substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A process of treating moist fuel, particularly biomass fuel, in connection with a power production process, comprises drying moist fuel (7) by means of combustion air (3), which is thereafter supplied to the power production process combustion section (1). Flue gas (11) from the combustion section, which as a result of said drying has become moisture-laden, is condensed (13) while recovering heat (15), which may be used as drying heat. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the flue gas condensation is used to humidify (31) the combustion air.

Abstract: Modular ceiling air diffusers are provided in which the core deflector elements are pre-fabricated in a one-hit one-part pressing operation to form a selected pattern of integral louvers shaped to deflect air in a desired horizontal air pattern. This reduces the labor content and material costs in manufacturing modular ceiling air diffusers compared to prior art devices of this kind, without compromising the level of air distribution performance.

Abstract: The instant device is an elongated four-sided, solid high molecular weight polyethylene wood sticker unit serving to separate, within a wood kiln unit, the lowermost surfaces of uppermost laid in planking from the uppermost surfaces of lowermost laid-in planking and characterized by the presence of four rounded edges marking the intersection of any two sides thereof and a helically inclined groove cut into the outer surfaces of all four sides thereof and extending uniformly from one end thereof to the other end thereof.

Abstract: A drying processing apparatus for supplying a dry gas to a processing chamber 35, which houses therein semiconductor wafers W, to dry the semiconductor wafers W, including a heater 32 for heating N.sub.2 gas serving as a carrier gas; a vapor generator 34 for making IPA misty by using the N.sub.2 gas heated by the heater 32 and for heating the IPA to produce the dry gas; and a flow control element 36 for supplying a predetermined rate of N.sub.2 gas to the processing chamber 35. Thus, it is possible to improve the efficiency of heat transfer of N.sub.2 gas, and it is possible to increase the amount of produced IPA gas and decrease the time to produce IPA gas. In addition, it is possible to prevent the turbulence of atmosphere in the processing chamber 35 after the drying processing is completed.

Abstract: A combination drying unit has a towel roll rotatably held within a housing. By activation of a switch, a motor drives a drive roller that has an idler roller biased thereagainst for advancing the paper towel stream through a first opening of the housing. A blower is also disposed within the housing and blows a stream of air through at least one second opening on the housing. A sensor activates the motor and the blower. A sensor detects the presence of a towel stream and deactivates the motor until this sensor no longer detects the paper towel stream. Another sensor detects the absence of a towel stream, deactivates the motor, and increases the length of operation of the blower upon activation of the switch. This sensor also illuminates a service light indicating either a jam condition or an out of paper condition.

Abstract: A system for the thermal processing of material in a housing having an inlet for receipt of the materials and an outlet for the discharge of the material after thermal treatment. The heating of the materials is accomplished, at least in part, by contact of the materials with a particulate medium which has been preheated in a separate heating operation employing infrared radiant heaters. The housing includes a heating zone separate from the zone used for thermal processing of the materials with the separate heating zone including the infrared radiant heaters. The particulate medium is introduced to the heating zone and brought to a controlled temperature. The medium is then conveyed to the processing zone where it is admixed with the materials being thermally processed. A shrouded zone is located intermediate the processing and particulate medium heating zones. This zone comprises a section of reduced clearance thereby providing a gas and dust lock between the processing and heating zones.

Abstract: Freeze drying apparatus and associated lyophilization procedures are provided employing vapor flow detection and/or vacuum control for monitoring and control of the lyophilization process. The vapor flow detector, such as a windmill sensor, is disposed to monitor vapor flow from product undergoing lyophilization. In a batch process, vapor flow is collectively monitored with the vapor flow detector between the process chamber and condenser chamber, while in a manifold configuration separate vapor flow detectors are employed at each flask attachment port. A windmill sensor provides visual feedback to an operator and/or electronic feedback to a system controller. A vacuum control system is also provided for use with or independent of vapor flow detection. This vacuum control disconnects the vacuum source from the process chamber when pressure within the process chamber falls below a first predefined set point.

Abstract: A particle movement controller, being disposed between a first fluidized bed, to where particles are supplied, and a second fluidized bed, from where particles are discharged, which controls the moving amount of the particles from the first fluidized bed to the second fluidized bed, is improved to have a substantially proportional characteristic without a hysteresis. Flow rate control nozzle pipes 30a, 30b, . . . , 30j made of horizontal pipes are disposed vertically at intervals and nozzle holes 31 are formed in a lower surface of each of the nozzles. An amount of air emitted from each nozzle hole 31 is controlled using opening and closing valves 33a, 33b, . . . , 33j or flow rate adjustment valves 35a, 35b, . . . , 35j (FIG. 2).

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of flat-form material, especially of coated printed circuit boards, wherein the printed circuit boards are subjected to various treatment processes in succession, such as airflow treatment, drying, and cooling, while they are being transported through a housing in which treatment processes are carried out, there are provided in the housing, for the purpose controlling of the process and increasing the adaptability of the treatment installation, individual treatment zones separate from one another, and the printed circuit boards are conveyed into the individual treatment zones in groups, a separate treatment process being carried out in each treatment zone.

Abstract: An air distribution system having a plurality of vents for a motor vehicle is provided. The system includes a cylindrical housing having a plurality of passageways that lead to the vents attached thereto, The cylindrical housing encloses two inner barrels are rotatably mounted therein that can independently direct air to selected vents. This provides the ability for the passenger of the vehicle to receive air flow through a selected vent and the driver to receive sir flow through a possibly different selected vent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for cooling semiconductor substrates prior to handling. In one embodiment, a substrate and support structure combination is lifted after high temperature processing to a cold wall of a thermal processing chamber, which acts as a heat sink. Conductive heat transfer across a small gap from the substrate to the heat sink speeds wafer cooling prior to handling the wafer (e.g., with a robot). In another embodiment, a separate plate is kept cool within a pocket during processing, and is moved close to the substrate and support after processing. In yet another embodiment, a cooling station between a processing chamber and a storage cassette includes two movable cold plates, which are movable to positions closely spaced on either side of the wafer.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling widthwise contraction of a conveyed web has opposing first web carrier belts and opposing second web carrier belts forming a generally serpentine transport path for supporting opposite lateral edges of the conveyed web.

Abstract: A conveyor dryer having a drying chamber and a conveyor disposed within the chamber for conveying a selected material through the chamber is detected. A stationary conveyor support is disposed on each side of the conveyor for supporting the conveyor. A material guide is disposed adjacent each side of the conveyor for generally retaining material on the conveyor and wherein the conveyor support and material guide are disposed adjacent to each other such that they cooperate to form a generally air tight seal that minimizes the flow of air between the conveyor support and the material guide.

Abstract: A rotating vacuum kiln for heat treating solid particulate material under vacuum conditions uses a rotating refractory metal cylindrical vessel with a cool inlet zone, hot intermediate zone, and cool exit zone, with a first series of inner radiation shields provided at the hot intermediate zone adjacent to the cool inlet zone and a second series of inner radiation shields provided at the hot intermediate zone adjacent the cool exit zone to protect those two zones from the high temperatures in the hot intermediate zone. Heat for the hot intermediate zone of the cylindrical vessel is provided indirectly by electrical resistance heaters that surround the vessel and outer radiation shields are provided about the heaters to direct heat to the cylindrical vessel.

Abstract: An improved, low-cost conditioned air vestibule for use on a doorway of a refrigerated storage room permits unobstructed passage of vehicles while effectively reducing the exchange of air through the doorway and substantially eliminating precipitation both inside and outside the doorway.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling grain flow within a column of a grain dryer is disclosed. The grain dryer includes a metering roll positioned to contact grain advancing out of a discharge opening of the column. The grain dryer further includes a regulator member which is movable between a flow regulating position and a trash escape position. The regulator member contacts either the metering roll, or grain supported by the metering roll when the regulator member is positioned in the flow regulating position. The regulator member is spaced from the metering roll by a distance sufficient to enable a trash object to advance between the regulator member and the metering roll when the regulator is positioned in the trash escape position. A method of controlling grain flow within a column of a grain dryer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and system for treating sludge are provided. Sludge is dewatered by introducing pressurized air to the sludge, while the sludge is being moved continuously. The air strips the sludge of its water, thus increasing total solids captured with respect to time. The throughput of the system is therefore also increased. In addition, the pressurized air passing through the sludge support purges contaminants from the pores of the support, thus keeping them clean without the necessity to backwash same.

Abstract: A glove dryer attachment for a boot dryer includes a boot dryer attachment flange that is configured to mount on a boot dryer. A panel on the boot dryer attachment is provided with ribs projecting from the panel and defining air duct passages, including air inlet passages along one side of the panel and air discharge passages along the other side of the panel. The ribs and panel define open airway connections joining the air inlet passages and air discharge passages. The boot dryer attachment flange includes a baffle arranged to guide air into the intake passages and outwardly from the discharge passages.

Abstract: A through-air drying apparatus for drying a traveling wet paper web supported on a continuous fabric comprises a dryer roll about which the fabric and web are partially wrapped and which has a foraminous roll face, a supply hood which surrounds the portion of the roll about which the fabric and web are wrapped and which supplies heated air through the fabric and web and through the roll face into the interior of the roll, and an exhaust system for exhausting air from the roll. An axial exhaust passage is formed through at least one head of the roll. An exhaust manifold is connected to the exhaust passage and defines two outlets on opposite sides of the manifold. A pair of movable ducts are sealingly and releasably engaged with the outlets in the opposite sides of the manifold, the ducts being spaced apart on opposite sides of the roll so that an access space is defined between the two ducts for access to the roll and supply hood.