Abstract: A solids-gas contact vessel, having two vertically disposed distinct reaction zones, includes a dynamic seal passing solids from an upper to a lower zone and maintaining a gas seal against the transfer of the separate treating gases from one zone to the other, and including a stream of sealing fluid at the seal.

Abstract: A cooling device for dry cooling of coke by a counterflow of gaseous cooling medium has a prechamber, a housing including upper and lower parts, a conduit for discharging a gaseous cooling medium, wherein the prechamber form with the housing an annular space of an increased cross-section in the region of the discharge conduit, the prechamber is connected with the housing by a plurality of mounting members distributed over the periphery of the prechamber, and two sliding joints are provided of which one sliding joint slidingly connects the upper wall with the lower wall, and the other sliding joint slidingly connects the prechamber with the upper wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the dry cooling of coke is disclosed wherein a cooling gas is routed through a coke charge by means of a distributor or manifold disposed in the bottom of a vertical cooling chamber. The gas passing upwardly through the coke charge is heated by the hot coke. A temperature sensor is provided in the discharge line for the heated gas from the coke cooling chamber, and the distribution and flow rate of the cooling gas introduced at the bottom of the chamber is controlled thereby to maintain a predetermined temperature of the discharged gas. A further embodiment includes multiple gas discharge lines located at different levels of the coke charge. Since the temperature of the gas discharged varies with the level from which the gas is withdrawn, controlled combination of the various discharge flows provides an additional means for producing and maintaining the predetermined temperature of the combined gas discharge.

Abstract: There is provided a system for reactivating wet, spent carbon including a drying device to heat the carbon to drive moisture from the carbon as steam. A multiple-hearth furnace receives the carbon from the drying device, and the carbon is baked and reactivated therein. Reactivation is accomplished in the presence of steam, at least part of which is the steam which had been driven from the wet, spent carbon.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characterized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. A multiplicity of grain turning apparatus of full and partial width of the grain column is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two or more separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.

Abstract: A plenum drying hopper for granular material includes a housing enclosing a plenum chamber, an upper material inlet for introducing a flow of granular material into the plenum chamber, and a perforate diffuser cone, located in the lower portion of the plenum chamber, that directs the granular material from the plenum chamber into a material outlet. The perforations in the diffuser cone are large enough to permit ready passage of gas therethrough but small enough to preclude passage of all but the finest particles of the granular material. A gas inlet extends into the lower portion of the housing for introducing a drying gas (air) into the plenum chamber; a gas outlet discharges the gas from the upper part of the housing. Heaters are provided for heating the gas prior to its entry into the plenum chamber.

Abstract: A grain drying apparatus includes an upright bin having a perforated drying floor supported substantially above a perforated cooling floor. An opening through the drying floor communicates with a hopper having a gate mechanism adapted to confine grain within the hopper when closed and adapted to permit grain to fall from the hopper into the cooling chamber when opened. A grain discharge conveyor has one end in communication with the hopper and the other end extended outwardly through the bin sidewall. A support truss for the drying floor includes upper and lower ring members supported in vertically spaced-apart and aligned relation, a plurality of purlins radiating outwardly from the upper ring member for connection to the bin sidewall at circumferentially spaced positions and a plurality of tension braces radiating outwardly from the lower ring member for connection to the purlins adjacent the bin sidewall.

Abstract: Cereal grain dryer comprising an elongated vertical casing defining an open ended enclosure. A combustion chamber provides hot combustion gases divided into two streams: one flowing into a coil lining an upper section of the casing and the other flowing through a radiator which heats up air before the latter moves horizontally across the enclosure by passing through two orifices of the casing. The casing is likewise horizontally traversed by a cold air stream passing through two further casing orifices, below the hot air stream. The cereal grains fall vertically through the enclosure and are moved by gravity. They are dried with a good thermal efficiency without coming in contact with the combustion gases.

Abstract: A method for producing hot briquettes, for example, for use in blast furnaces, and using a briquetting material of non-caking components, such as low temperature coke from bituminous coal and/or lignite, coke dust and/or oil coke and caking fat coal at temperatures between 430.degree. C. and 540.degree. C., comprising, delivering the briquetting material to a briquetting press to form briquette blanks, tempering and degassing the blanks by delivering the blanks into individual chambers in a closed system of several chambers having gas communication with each other so that there is partly changing amounts of gas generated in the individual chambers and the briquette blanks are formed into tempered briquettes, and applying an overpressure to the chambers to conduct the gases away from the chamber with one and the same overpressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying products of various types including particulate materials having varying degrees of moisture content including those moistened throughout, as by organic solvents, and which may be tacky in nature; the apparatus including a generally cylindrical vessel with a downwardly conical lower portion terminating in a dried product discharge opening, and a gas inlet conduit arranged to deliver a drying gas to the vessel in the region of and slightly above the discharge opening at relatively low pressure but with auxiliary screw or propeller arrangements for preventing access of the product, particularly if tacky, to the gas inlet conduit and also serving to assist in distribution of the drying gas throughout the product as it is agitated and distributed in the vessel and in countercurrent as it tends toward the discharge opening.

Abstract: A regeneration equipment for spent activated carbon comprises a regeneration reactor provided vertically through a vertical heating furnace and an integrated body of a longitudinal series of numerous spiral elements fixedly provided almost throughout the length of said regeneration reactor. Steam ducts are provided so that they are inserted in said regeneration reactor at about the middle portion thereof. On the outside surface of the wall of said regeneration reactor, fixedly provided are exhaust chambers, each of which communicates at its bottom portion with the inside of said regeneration reactor through exhaust holes provided in the wall of said reactor, and is filled with heat-resisting balls piled up in three layers so that the balls in the top and bottom layers are larger in diameter than said exhaust holes and those in the middle layer are similar in diameter to activated carbon particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the regeneration of wet spent active carbon devised so as to bring the active carbon supplied from a hopper into contact with a reaction gas generated or heated to high temperature in a furnace, wherein an exhaust duct for the high-temperature exhaust gas from the furnace is installed penetrating the hopper in order to heat the active carbon descending therein and a condensate collecting header for discharging water separated from the active carbon is disposed at the lower part of the hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus for preheating solid particulate material which material is to be subjected to thermal processing in a furnace. The preheater includes a vessel having an inlet for solid particulate material to be heated, an outlet for preheated material, an inlet for hot exhaust gas from the furnace and an outlet for spent preheating gas. The various inlets and outlets are positioned with respect to each other to achieve countercurrent contact between gas and solids. A gas-solids contact zone is defined within the vessel. A plurality of superimposed conduits connect the solid material inlet with the gas-solids contact zone. A valve is positioned in each of these conduits to control the flow of material to the gas-solids contact zone and thereby control the depth of material within that zone. The greater the depth of material within the gas solids contact zone, the greater amount of preheating that will be accomplished due to a greater length of time that the solid particulate material is exposed to the hot gas.

Abstract: Polyester granules are crystallized and dried by passing hot gases of 120.degree. to 190.degree. C. in upward direction through the stationary layer of loose polyester granules resting in a cylindrical container on a plane or conical perforated tray slowly rotating about its vertical axis. The hot gas is passed through the material in an amount such that no fluidization is brought about. Under the action of the hot gas the granules agglomerate and the agglomerate is alternately slightly lifted and lowered again by stripping edges on the perforated tray whereby the agglomerate portion resting on the tray is disintegrated and the crystallized granules are discharged through slots behind the stripping edges in the tray.

Abstract: In a stationary upright cylindrically shaped container, organic waste materials are passed downwardly from an upper inlet opening to a lower outlet opening. At the same time air is passed in counterflow upwardly through the downwardly flowing body of waste materials being converted into compost. The air supply means at the lower end of the container are divided into sector-shaped parts, and the compost is conveyed to the outlet opening from each of the sectors of the body so that the moisture content of the material leaving each sector can be checked. Air is introduced, in turn, into the lower end of each sector within the container. The amount of air introduced into each sector is regulated in accordance with the moisture content of the material discharged from that sector.

Abstract: In the scrubbing of gases containing sorbable contaminants, particularly the waste gases from reduction cells for electrolytic production of aluminium the waste gas is injected tangentially into the bottom of a cylindrical chamber, from which it is withdrawn through an axial outlet passage at the top end. A solid sorbent material is introduced into the chamber at one or more positions at the top end of the chamber in such a way that it enters the ascending gas stream in a peripheral zone of the chamber.

Abstract: A grain drying bin is disclosed having a simplified structural supporting system and which provides rapid drying of stored grains. An upper truncated pyramidal shaped housing section has at least three inwardly sloping planar side walls and a horizontal roof portion with a grain entry port. A lower inverted truncated pyramidal shaped housing section having the same number of planar inwardly sloping side walls is provided. The two housing sections directly join to one another with the lower housing section being substantially supported in a cavity in the ground. Ventilation panels are mounted substantially parallel to and at a predetermined spacing from the side walls and floor portion of the lower housing section. A hot gas inlet aperture is provided to permit the entry of heated gas into the spaces between the side walls and the ventilation panels.

Abstract: An improved metering discharge device for particulate material, particularly grain, is described. The device comprises a plurality of tubes extending downwardly from a lower region of a vessel, particularly in uniformly spaced relationship across the bottom of a gravity flow grain drying chamber. Each tube has an upper end flow connected to the drying chamber and a closed lower end and also has a pair of opposed openings in the side walls. A rotatable auger extends laterally through the tube via the side wall openings. The tubes preferably arranged in straight rows with a single auger extending through each row. This combination of tubes and augers provides a simpler design as well as a more precise flow metering than prior metering rolls. Also included are a plurality of laterally spaced, inverted channel members with open bottoms extending across the drying tower immediately above the discharge floor structure, these channel members being adapted to distribute cooling air into the grain in the tower.

Abstract: Granular solid material is dried in a vertically extending annular chamber formed between inner and outer cylindrical walls by a current of high temperature inert drying gas of high humidity passed downward through the material. Material enters the chamber under gravity through a slot in the inner wall, which slot extends round the full periphery of the inner wall, and is removed from the bottom of the chamber by a variable speed discharge system, the rate of entry through the slot being governed by the rate of discharge from the bottom of the chamber so that the top of the column of material is of frusto-conical form. The spent drying gas stream, less a quantity which is discharged, is used to dilute the products of a fuel in air, the high temperature mixture thus formed constituting the drying gas. The quantity discharged has a mass equal to that of the fuel and air forming the products of combustion. An upward current of cooling air may be passed through the lower portions of the column of material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for drying and pelletizing organic material such as animal waste, sewage and the like. The organic material is dried in two stages using a high temperature, rotating primary drying drum, and a lower temperature secondary louvred drying drum. The primary drum includes an inlet section and an outlet section. The inlet section includes a plurality of transverse chain curtains for increased heat transfer to the organic material, for breaking up the organic material and for cleaning the sides of the drum. The primary drum outlet section includes a plurality of vanes angularly attached to the inside of the drum to form an auger to retain the material in the drum until it is partially dried to a desired level. The organic material is then transported to the secondary louvred layer. The louvred dryer includes an input section, an output section and a central pelletizing section formed by adjacent portions of the input and output sections.

Abstract: Mobile sand de-oiling apparatus can be transported along beaches to cleanse sand contaminated by oil and other liquid petroleum products washed onto the beach. The contaminated sand is conveyed into one end of the apparatus and deposited as a layer onto a specially constructed inclined laminated perforate tray. The tray osculates vigorously so that the sand is not only conveyed along the tray where it is exposed to a multiplicity of overhead steam jets, but also clumps of sand are bounced up and down with the result that the individual sand particles separate from one another and turn and spin so that their entire surfaces are exposed to the hot steam. The steam thins the oil which is driven from the sand particles by the steam jets through the tray into a sump. The clean sand is discharged from the opposite end of the tray onto a conveyor which transports it to a storage site.

Abstract: The present invention provides a double-cylinder type apparatus for the regeneration of active carbon, which comprises a heating furnace provided with at least one burner and at least one annular regeneration chamber composed of at least one set of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder installed concentrically inside said heating furnace, said outer cylinder having a plurality of holes penetrating the side wall thereof, wherein the spent active carbon is supplied to the upper part of said annular regeneration chamber and the regenerated carbon is to be taken out at the lower part of the same. The heating of said annular regeneration chamber from the side of said inner cylinder is performed either by introducing the flue gas arising in said heating furnace into the inner cylinder or by providing at least one burner within said inner cylinder and utilizing the combustion gas from said burner.

Abstract: A fuel dryer system for waste fuel boilers, such as for example those in the sugar cane processing industry where bagasse is used as a primary fuel, in which the dryer comprises an assembled, enclosed, vertical dryer structure of basically cylindrical shape through which hot drying gases flow with a conical materials collecting hopper and bottom discharge, having alternating conical-shaped rotating and fixed materials trays over which the materials (e.g. bagasse) to be dried move in a net direction from top to bottom (note Figure 1). Adjustable wipers are provided with the conical materials trays, with access portholes at each tray level. In the sugar cane boiler system the stack gases from the boiler are used for the hot drying gases (note Figure 5).

Abstract: In a process for drying and heating nylon granules, in which the granules flow downwards through a vertical zone, hot inert gases which are free from molecular oxygen are passed in counter-current through the granules and the cooled granules are then intermittently discharged in part-streams, the improvement wherein the wet granules, or a suspension of the granules in water, are fed into the zone at the top, the granules are deposited as a layer, the water is led away, the layer of granules is then transferred into the next-lower part of the zone, the granules are there allowed to flow under gravity downwards through the zone, and inert gases which are free from molecular oxygen are passed in countercurrent upwards through the granules at from 70 to 200.degree.

Abstract: In gas-solids contacting processes involving the transfer of granular solids from a high-temperature, non-oxidizing treating zone through an enclosed conduit to a combustion zone, the transfer of gases between the treating zone and the combustion zone is prevented by using a novel steam sealing technique which avoids the use of mechanical sealing means and differential pressure controllers. Steam is injected into the system between the two contacting zones, and by the use of flow rate controllers and a pressure controller, a portion of such steam is forced at all times to flow through the combustion zone, while another portion thereof is withdrawn from the transfer conduit in admixture with a portion of net off-gas from the treating zone. The control system is particularly adapted for use in oil shale retorting, wherein coke on the retorted shale is burned in a combustion zone.

Abstract: A material collecting device such as a hopper, shredder, or enclosed conveyor having an entrance opening for deposit of material into the device, an exit opening for removal of material, and a hood on the device connected with duct means for exhaust of dust particles from the material, the hood being provided with a circumferential passage through which air is drawn into the device for entraining such dust particles, and with coils or rings for removing moisture from the air, the coils being connected with a source of hot fluid or refrigerant for drying the material and/or the air within the device, and being Coanda-shaped if desired for extraction of water from a moving air stream.

Abstract: Particles, e.g. granules, of plastic materials are dried by blowing air heated to 0.5-5.degree. C below the sticking temperature of the granules through a bed of the particles. The air temperature is controlled by means of a proportional controller having integral and derivative terms.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, and a method for the regeneration of spent wet active carbon, which apparatus comprises a drier for substantially drying the spent carbon, a heating furnace provided with at least one burner and at least one duct, and a regeneration chamber consisting of at least one set of inner cylinder and outer cylinder installed concentrically and vertically inside said heating furnace to penetrate the top and bottom walls of the furnace, wherein said inner and outer cylinders have respectively a multiplicity of holes penetrating the side walls thereof, said inner cylinder is connected with a supply tube for a regeneration gas capable of effecting regeneration of the dried carbon-to-be-regenerated upon contact therewith, the upper end of said outer cylinder is connected with said drier so as to receive said dried carbon therefrom while the lower end thereof forms an outlet for the regenerated carbon, and said duct is connected with the drier so as to facilitate direct or indir

Abstract: There is provided a puffback technique for cleaning a panel bed contactor suitable for chemical or physical treatment of gas and granular material. Free surfaces for entry of gas are supported cooperatively by louvers. A puffback technique is provided for cleaning the gas entry surfaces to rid them of granular material "spent" by the treatment, including accumulated dust if the treatment includes filtration to remove dust from a gas. The puffback consists of a reverse transient flow across the panel bed of an intensity moderated so that the reverse pressure differential exceeds a first critical minimum for a time interval between about 5 and 150 milliseconds (preferably less than 50 milliseconds if the treatment includes filtration) and achieves a top value beyond a second critical minimum.

Abstract: A process for drying moist material, particularly substances containing water of crystallization, in which the material is passed in counterflow through a shaft to gases having an inlet temperature of 200.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The gas rises at a velocity of 2 to 30 m/sec. and the moist substances are introduced into the shaft in a high-density stream so that the moist materials agglomerate concurrently with the drying.

Abstract: There is provided an improved panel bed gas-solid contactor fitted for puffback cleaning and for use with a relatively fine granular material, such as smaller than about 20 mesh, at large gas face velocities (i.e., the horizontal velocity of gas across the panel bed), in which the fine material is prevented from blowing away from gas exit portions of the panel bed by mounting a column of closely spaced louvers next to these portions, providing a second column of substantially horizontal louvers spaced apart from the closely spaced louvers, and filling the space between the two louver columns with a coarser granular material, such as 10-14 mesh. The coarser material is also preferably denser. The contactor is well suited for use at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A grain drying apparatus including a body member into which grain is fed, within which heated air passes through the grain bed to dry it, and from which it is discharged by a metering device, the retention time of the grain in the drying zone being determined by its rate of discharge, the discharge rate of the metering device being variable, and a modulating control system for regulating the metering device to vary its discharge rate in generally direct ratio to grain temperature attained within the drying zone, whereby continuous discharge of grain at a predetermined moisture content is obtained despite variations in the moisture content of the grain supplied to the drying zone.

Abstract: A method of preparing iron powder for recording in which iron oxide hydrate powder is reduced by flowing hydrogen in intimate contact with the iron oxide hydrate powder, preferrably in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: Upon discharge from a coke oven, highly heated coke is cooled by charging the hot coke to a shaft cooler wherein it is contacted with an inert cooling gas to a temperature of between 600.degree.-800.degree.F, the coke then being discharged through a pressure retention device and to a quench bunker by means of a feeding device, with the coke further cooled to a temperature of below 300.degree.F by water sprays, while preventing entrance of steam into the shaft cooler. The feed means and quench bunker are enclosed so as to prevent discharge to the atmosphere of steam produced on contact of the spray with the coke as well as particulate material carried thereby. The coke at below 300.degree.F is then fed to a conveyor for removal from the cooling area.

Abstract: A method of processing granular material by passing a gas in contraflow to a bed of the material descending in an independently rotatable annular chamber of annular width a surmounting an annular eccentrically rotating floor, the outer bed wall being in gas-tight sliding relationship to the floor but the inner wall being spaced above the floor by a distance h, not less than, and not more than 10 percent in excess of, the value satisfying the relationship tan .phi. = h/a where .phi. is the operative angle of repose of the charge material at the bottom of the bed.

Abstract: A preheater for particulate material comprising a cylindrical refractory lined vessel with top feed and exhaust offtake. The preheater diameter is enlarged below the offtake so that the sloping material forms an area surrounded by ports which receive hot gases from the kiln. The lower portion of the preheater is conical, leading toward a small central discharge point. This portion constitutes a soaking zone in which heat is allowed to penetrate the material.