Abstract: A method and apparatus for agricultural product production with heat and moisture recovery and control. Some embodiments transfer heat and moisture from a warm, moist exhaust air stream to incoming agricultural material, steam condition the material, pelletize the material into warm pellets, cool the warm pellets with make-up air to produce the warm, moist exhaust air used to transfer heat to the incoming material and to produce cooled pellets, wherein the cooled pellets are at a temperature lower than the warm moist air. In some embodiments, the system includes counter-flow devices to transfer heat and moisture. In some embodiments, a controller is used to adjust system devices and overall system flow. In some embodiments a water sprayer, to moisten agricultural product when the product is over dry, and an air flow controller, to slow air flow through the pellet dryer/cooler when ambient temperatures are dryer/cooler, are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for agricultural product production with heat and moisture control with optional heat and moisture recovery. Some embodiments transfer heat and moisture from a warm, moist exhaust air stream to incoming agricultural material, steam condition the material, pelletize the material into warm pellets, cool the warm pellets with make-up air to produce the warm, moist exhaust air used to transfer heat to the incoming material and to produce cooled pellets, wherein the cooled pellets are at a temperature lower than the warm moist air. In some embodiments, the system includes counter-flow devices to transfer heat and moisture. In some embodiments, a controller is used to adjust system devices and overall system flow. In some embodiments a water sprayer, to moisten agricultural product when the product is over dry, and an air flow controller, to slow air flow through the pellet dryer/cooler when ambient temperatures are dryer/cooler, are provided.

Abstract: A system and method providing automatic adjustment of flows used to empty dry material from a pressure pot or hopper. In some embodiments, based on pressure increases in the conveying line that receives the dry material, the flow of conveying-fluid to the conveying line automatically increases and/or the flow of pressurization fluid to the hopper that assists pushing dry material out of the hopper automatically decreases and/or rotary-valve speed controlling dry-material rates from the hopper automatically slows. In some embodiments, one or more discretely or continuously adjustable critical-flow venturies (CFVs) automatically adjust mass flow of fluid based on, e.g., pintle position set by a pneumatic cylinder controlled by conveying-line pressure. Each pintle moves in and out of its CFV throat, adjusting throat area, thus setting the rate of flow. In some embodiments, pintle cross-sectional area is linearly proportional to distance from the tip of the pintle.