Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for heating and/or drying particulate materials such as coal wherein the particulates are fed into a direct heating fluidizing chamber, carried in a stream of heated oxygen-free gas at a temperature sufficiently high to heat the particles to a preselected temperature. The particles are then removed from the gas stream at the preselected temperature and then the gas is reheated in a heat exchanger and recycled. Where the particulate material to be dried yields a vapor, such as steam, the vapor is used as the transport or fluidizing gas. Means are provided for removing and/or condensing such vapor beyond the amount needed for fluidization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for heating and/or drying particulate materials such as coal wherein the particulates are fed into a fluidizing chamber, carried in a stream of heated oxygen-free gas at a temperature sufficiently high to heat the particles to a preselected temperature. The particles are then removed from the gas stream at the preselected temperature and then the gas is reheated in a heat exchanger and recycled. Where the particulate material to be dried yields a vapor, such as steam, the vapor is used as the transport or fluidizing gas. Means are provided for removing and/or condensing such vapor beyond the amount needed for fluidization.

Abstract: The specification discloses and describes a method and means of operating an incinerator whereby the concentration of evaporated solvent or other combustible materials delivered to an incinerator is controlled as a reflection of the temperature of the gas stream made up of products of combustion exhausted from the incinerator. By maintaining the fuel input to the incinerator constant and also maintaining the temperature of the stream of gases entering the incinerator constant, the variation of the temperature of the stream of products of combustion emitted from the incinerator with respect to a standard value reflects the variation in the concentration of evaporated solvents or other combustibles in the stream of gases supplied to the incinerator.

Abstract: The specification discloses and describes a method and means of operating an incinerator whereby the concentration of evaporated solvent or other combustible materials delivered to an incinerator is controlled as a reflection of the temperature of the gas stream made up of products of combustion exhausted from the incinerator. By maintaining the fuel input to the incinerator constant and also maintaining the temperature of the stream of gases entering the incinerator constant, the variation of the temperature of the stream of products of combustion emitted from the incinerator with respect to a standard value reflects the variation in the concentration of evaporated solvents or other combustibles in the stream of gases supplied to the incinerator.