Abstract: An apparatus for gas/solids exchange has a column having a plurality of vertically spaced grates on which the granular solids can form beds to be traversed by the gas. Each grate is provided in a grate plane by a plurality of fixed grate bars interdigitated with movable grate bars forming a planar unit which can be displaced by a controller out of the grate plane to allow the granular solids on the respective grate to trickle downwardly uniformly over the cross section of the column onto the next lower grate.

Abstract: Active form coke is made from coal by passing the coal granulate downwardly through a preheating and pyrolysis zone, a heating zone, an aftertreatment zone and a cooling zone by moving respective grate bars of grates in each zone so that a bed of granules on one grate trickles uniformly onto the next lower grate. In the preheating, heating and aftertreatment zone CO.sub.2 or steam are passed through the beds by laterally introducing the gas at one side and withdrawing the gas on the opposite side of a respective bed.

Abstract: In the process for reducing the noxious substance contents of flue gas, particularly flue gas desulphuration by dry process, the adsorber (1) and/or the regenerator (2) are built like a shaft. Active coke is introduced in the shaft in plane heaps with free intervals between each other: the coke is transported batchwise from top to bottom and is traversed by the flue gas. The heaps are supported by grates (6) of which the bars may come out at least partially from the grate plane so as to disintegrate the heaps and to bring them to the following stage in the form of a trickling flow, so that a constant thickness with respect to the cross-section is maintained. The infeed and evacuation of the flue gas with shaft-like absorber (1), respectively the gas streams in a shaft-like regenerator (2) are carried out in such a way that at least a preponderant number of heaps is traversed from bottom to top. Optionally it is possible to provide in the adsorber a mixture with NH.sub.3 gas in order to denitrify the flue gas.

Abstract: In the process for the thermal and/or chemical treatment of grained, granular or lump material in plane heaps, the latter are transported with free intervals, in stages, from top to bottom through a shaft and are traversed by gases. The heaps lay on grates of which the bars may be taken out at least partially from the grate plane, temporarily and spatially, in such a way that the different heaps are disaggregated and fed in the form of a uniform gripping flow to the next stage so that a constant layer cross-section thickness is maintained. The introduction and evacuation of the gases are effected through side openings provided in the shaft wall in the cross-section which is not filled with the heaps.

Abstract: In the thermal process for treating swellable granulates of clay or the like, the granulates are entered in heaps (4) with free intervals between them into a shaft (1) and traverse said shaft (1) by stages from top to bottom. The heaps (4) are supported by grates (2) of which the bars may be temporarily and at least taken out from the plane of the grate (2) so that the various heaps (4) are fed in the form of a temporarily regulated trickling flow to the next stage, so that a constant thickness with respect to the cross-section is maintained. In the various stages, the heaps (4) are traversed by hot gases introduced sideways into the shaft (1) and exhausted on the other side according to a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layer.

Abstract: Mold elements, generally composed of clay, are removed from the mold by pressing the body upwardly with a wedging action.