Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-level furnace for thermal treatment of the material flow which has at least two process chambers arranged one above another, each providing at least two level floors, and is equipped with one or more transfer devices for transferring the treated material flow from an upper process chamber to a lower process chamber. In order to separate the two process chambers in terms of gas flow, the transfer device has means for forming a material column in the transition region between the upper and the lower process spaces, wherein said means for forming a material column comprise at least one conveying unit or at least one chute, and the at least one conveying unit or at least one chute also forms a material removal device for the upper process chamber and/or a material input device for the lower process chamber.

Abstract: In the method according to the invention for increasing the calorific value of a material flow containing carbon, preferably a material flow of renewable raw materials, the material flow is brought in direct contact with at least one low-oxygen, inert hot gas flow in a reactor, wherein the hot gas flow is formed at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, by exhaust gas of a process for thermally processing cement raw meal and/or lime and/or an ore, wherein at least part of a preheater exhaust gas for preheating the cement raw meal and/or lime and/or ore is used as the hot gas flow.

Abstract: A device for drying and torrefaction of at least one carbon-containing material flow in a multiple-hearth furnace includes a drying zone, a torrefaction zone, a heat exchanger for heating the drying gas flow, the discharge point of the drying zone being connected via the heat exchanger to the infeed point of the drying zone; and a combustion assembly, wherein the discharge point of the torrefaction zone is connected via the combustion assembly and the heat exchanger to the infeed point of the torrefaction zone, wherein a torrefaction gas flow discharged via the discharge point of the torrefaction zone is combusted in the combustion assembly and the resulting exhaust gas is used in the heat exchanger to heat the drying gas flow and is fed to the torrefaction zone, wherein the drying zone and the torrefaction zone comprise two separate gas circulations.

Abstract: The device according to the invention for drying and torrefaction of at least one carbon-containing material flow in a multiple-hearth furnace substantially comprises a drying zone, which comprises a feed device for feeding a carbon-containing material flow, a discharge point for discharging a drying gas flow containing water vapour and an infeed point for recycling at least a part of the drying gas flow, a torrefaction zone for degassing the material flow dried in the drying zone, which comprises a discharge point for discharging a torrefied material flow, at least one infeed point for an exhaust gas and a discharge point for a torrefaction gas flow, a heat exchanger for heating the drying gas flow, the discharge point of the drying zone being connected via the heat exchanger to the infeed point of the drying zone, a combustion assembly, wherein the discharge point of the torrefaction zone is connected via the combustion assembly and the heat exchanger to the infeed point of the torrefaction zone, wherei