Abstract: A particulate material drying apparatus and method including a pulse combustor and an associated combustion chamber. Fuel and combustion air are introduced to the combustion chamber whereby the combination of the pulse combustor and combustion chamber generates a pulsating flow of hot gases. A material feed introduction chamber receives the hot gases and material to be dried is delivered into the introduction chamber for contact therein with the flow of hot gases. A drying chamber is connected to the introduction chamber for receiving the mixture of material and hot gases exiting from the introduction chamber. The drying chamber comprises an enclosing wall, a porous inner wall spaced inwardly from the enclosing wall, and an annular space defined between the enclosing wall and the porous inner wall. Fluid under pressure is introduced to the annular space whereby the fluid passes through the porous inner wall and deters build-up of material on the inner surface of the porous inner wall.

Abstract: A pellet mill for pelleting feed product, has a pelleting die with a plurality of extrusion holes for extruding the feed product; rollers, rotatable relative to the pelleting die, for forcing feed product through the extrusion holes; provision for intensively mixing and shearing the feed product before introducing the feed product to the pelleting die; and a device for positively conveying the feed product into the provision for intensively mixing and shearing.