Abstract: In a method and apparatus for treating particulate material, the material, when in a mobilization zone bounded by upwardly divergent walls, is subjected to a flow of gaseous mobilizing medium, supplied at a multiplicity of sites of the walls, and preferably also to a simultaneous flow of gaseous accelerating medium supplied in an upward direction from a lower region of the zone. The treatments include drying, moistening, heating, cooling and blending.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the size of particles entrained in a gas comprises an optical fibre probe having a hemispherical end and insertable into a stream of gas bearing entrained particles to create a stagnation point in the flowing gas, a Doppler anemometer to measure particle velocity at a point upstream of the stagnation point and a computer-controlled burst counter to determine from the particle velocity measurements the distribution by number of aerodynamic diameter of the particles.

Abstract: Mobilization apparatus for the treatment, drying for example, of particulate material comprises a mobilization zone bounded by upwardly divergent walls. Particulate material in the zone is mobilized by being subjected to a flow of gaseous mobilizing medium supplied at a multiplicity of sites of the divergent walls. The material is simultaneously subjected to a flow of gaseous accelerating medium supplied in an upward direction from a lower region of the mobilization zone. The obtains in the mobilization zone of circulatory pattern comprising downward flow at the divergent walls and upward flow from a lower region of the zone.In order to discharge the particulate material from the apparatus, a mask extending outwardly from the lower end of an upwardly extending discharge duct is brought to the upper end of the mobilization zone. The result is that the circulatory pattern is destroyed and the material is pneumatically transported up the discharge duct.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the production of gases free from particulate contaminants, for use in driving gas turbines without causing fouling or corrosion of the blading.The method comprises feeding a gas contaminated with particulate material, for instance produced by the combustion or gasification of coal, and a tackifying material, such as a crackable hydrocarbon or an inorganic compound, to a collection medium, preferably a fluidized particle bed, maintained at a temperature whereat the tackifying material becomes sticky and is deposited on the collection medium. The contaminants are removed by becoming stuck thereon.