Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of feed material to provide an ash. The apparatus includes a housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis and the gas then follows an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash. If preferred, the position of the ash outlet may be incorporated into the gas outlet. A control system is provided to limit the temperature in the feed material in the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of feed material to provide an ash. The apparatus includes a housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis and the gas then follows an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash. If preferred, the position of the ash outlet may be incorporated into the gas outlet. A control system is provided to limit the temperature in the feed material in the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of feed material to provide an ash. The apparatus includes a housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis and the gas then follows an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash. If preferred, the position of the ash outlet may be incorporated into the gas outlet. A control system is provided to limit the temperature in the feed material in the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for bringing particulate material into contact with a moving fluid in an annular processing zone to create processed material. The zone has a base and the process includes generating a circumferentially directed flow of gas in the zone to develop a circumferentially circulating turbulent bed of particulate material within the processing zone. Particulate material is supplied to the processing zone so that the particulate material is circulated in the processing zone to provide a predictable particle flow path both circumferential of the processing zone and helically of the zone.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of feed material to provide an ash. The apparatus includes a housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis and the gas then follows an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash. If preferred, the position of the ash outlet may be incorporated into the gas outlet. A control system is provided to limit the temperature in the feed material in the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of siliceous feed material to provide an ash having a predominantly silica content, typically more than 97% by weight. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and has an outlet in the mixing zone, and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis. Gas also enters through guides in a second gas inlet at the second end to create an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash.

Abstract: In a process for processing particulate material with a stream of fluid in an annular processing zone, which includes the steps of supplying the particulate material for processing in the zone, discharging processed material from the zone and generating in the zone a circumferentially directed flow of fluid to develop a circulating turbulent band of particles, an improvement to the processing zone which provides a predictable particle flow path both circumferentially and helically of the zone. The improvement comprises directing the flow of fluid to develop a circulating bed with inner bed depth and outer bed depth, a flow of fluid directed at an angle relative to the processing zone base and controlling fluid velocity so that it is greater than the terminal velocity of larger particles point of impact on the bed base and less than the terminal velocity of smaller particles in the superficial space above the bed upper surface.

Abstract: A method of heating matter comprises supplying a gaseous mixture, which is reactable to produce heat, at a temperature above that at which spontaneous ignition occurs to a heating zone such that the gaseous mixture reacts to provide a heated fluid flow in said heating zone, and supplying matter to be heated to said heating zone.

Abstract: Matter to be treated is passed through at least two treating regions sequentially wherein a bed of the matter is moved in a band continuously along an annular path by passing fluid through the bed along the path. The annular paths of the regions are concentric.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for subjecting matter to fluid flow. The apparatus comprises a chamber (10) having an annular fluid inlet (14) beneath a first annular region (22) in the chamber. A second annular region (24) is contiguous with and disposed outwardly of the region (22) between the region (22) and a circumferential wall (12), which has a slope (18) towards the annular inlet (14). Means shown as an annular array of radially extending slots provided in an annular wall portion (FIG. 3) direct fluid through the inlet (14) with vertical and circumferential flow components. In use matter in the chamber is moved in a band continuously along an annular path in the regions. (22, 24). The matter is moved vertically and circumferentially while in the region (22) by the flow therein, is moved out of this flow into region (24) by circumferential force and is directed back into the region (22) by the slope (18) as indicated by arrows (30).

Abstract: A bed 26 of particulate material is moved in a band continuously along an annular path by passing fluid media having both circumferential and vertical components through the bed along that path. The fluid media comprises combustion gases which are passed through the bed along a portion of the path for heating the particulate material as it passes therethrough and fluid matter to be heated which passes through the bed along another portion of its path such that the fluid matter is heated as it passes through the particulate material which has been heated by the combustion gases.

Abstract: A method of carrying out a process on or with liquid comprises moving a bed of the liquid in a band 28 continuously along an annular path defined in a chamber 12 by passing fluid 38 having both circumferential and vertical components through the bed along the path during the carrying out of the process.

Abstract: For processing matter in a turbulent mass of particulate material, a substantially annular processing region (14; 104; 206) is provided and is preferably in the form of a substantially annular processing chamber having a radially inner wall which includes a waist (38; 122). A flow of fluid and matter to be processed are admitted to the processing region through one or more inlets (28, 46; 108, 124; 214, 220) with the flow of fluid being directed generally circumferentially into the processing region. In the processing region, matter to be processed is embedded in a compact turbulent band of particulate material for processing. Once processing is complete, the processed matter is withdrawn from the processing region, preferably by entrainment in an exhaust flow of the fluid.

Abstract: For processing matter in a turbulent mass of particulate material, a substantially annular processing region (14; 104; 206) is provided and is preferably in the form of a substantially annular processing chamber having a radially inner wall which includes a waist (38; 122). A flow of fluid and matter to be processed are admitted to the processing region through one or more inlets (28, 46; 108, 124; 214, 220) with the flow of fluid being directed generally circumferentially into the processing region. In the processing region, matter to be processed is embedded in a compact turbulent band of particulate material for processing. Once processing is complete, the processed matter is withdrawn from the processing region, preferably by entrainment in an exhaust flow of the fluid.