Abstract: A cyclone comprising: an upper cylindrical portion which opens into the wider end of a lower frusto-conical portion, with the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower portions aligned and substantially vertical; a primary air inlet into the cyclone arranged such that the inlet air is substantially tangential to the circumference of the cyclone; an exhaust outlet at or adjacent the top of the cylindrical portion; a control valve associated with said exhaust outlet and capable of partially or completely shutting off said exhaust outlet; a secondary air inlet associated with the narrow end of the frusto-conical portion and provided with an airflow stabilizing device which is adapted to admit a stream of air substantially along or spirally around the longitudinal axis of the cyclone; means for removing processed product from the cyclone; means for moving said airflow stabilizing device into and out of the narrow end of the frusto-conical portion during product processing and/or between product processing.

Abstract: A cyclone comprising: an upper cylindrical portion which opens into the wider end of a lower frustro-conical portion, with the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower portions aligned and substantially vertical; a primary air inlet into the cyclone arranged such that the inlet air is substantially tangential to the circumference of the cyclone; an exhaust outlet at or adjacent the top of the cylindrical portion; a control valve associated with said exhaust outlet and capable of partially or completely shutting off said exhaust outlet; a secondary air inlet associated with the narrow end of the frustro-conical portion and provided with an airflow stabilising device which is adapted to admit a stream of air substantially along or spirally around the longitudinal axis of the cyclone; means for removing processed product from the cyclone; means for moving said airflow stabilising device into and out of the narrow end of the frustro-conical portion during product processing and/or between product processing.

Abstract: A method of processing lignocellulosic material includes the steps of comminuting the material to a size that it can be processed in a hydrothermal pressure vessel, drying the material in moving air to obtain a specific moisture content, packing the material into the vessel and subjecting the material within the vessel to steam under pressure, decompressing the vessel to return the temperature and pressure to ambient and drying the product to specific moisture content; the product so formed can be used for injection moulding or to form panel boards and the like.

Abstract: A cyclone which includes an upper cylindrical portion opening into the wider end of a lower frustro-conical portion, with a primary air inlet such that the inlet air is substantially tangential to the circumference of the cyclone, and an exhaust outlet at or adjacent the top of the cylindrical portion; a control valve is associated with the exhaust outlet and can be used to partially or completely shut off the outlet; a secondary air inlet is associated with the narrow end of the frustro-conical portion and is provided with an air flow stabilising device adapted to admit a stream of air substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cyclone; also including means for withdrawing processed product from the frustro-conical portion.

Abstract: A cyclone which includes an upper cylindrical portion opening into the wider end of a lower frustro-conical portion, with a primary air inlet such that the inlet air is substantially tangential to the circumference of the cyclone, and an exhaust outlet at or adjacent the top of the cylindrical portion; a control valve is associated with the exhaust outlet and can be used to partially or completely shut off the outlet; a secondary air inlet is associated with the narrow end of the frustro-conical portion and is provided with an air flow stabilising device adapted to admit a stream of air substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cyclone; also including means for withdrawing processed product from the frustro-conical portion.