Abstract: A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin includes a hopper wall having an inverted cone shape supported on upright support legs. A manifold duct is supported above the hopper wall to define a manifold passage therein extending circumferentially adjacent to the peripheral edge of the hopper wall. A plurality of outlet openings formed in the manifold duct in communication from the manifold passage to an interior of the hopper wall for open communication with the grain bin thereabove. An inlet opening extending through the hopper wall in alignment with the manifold duct receives ventilation air from a blower to direct the flow through the manifold duct and into the grain bin through the outlet openings of the manifold duct.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a biocompatible three-dimensional object including at least one delivery unit arranged to deliver at least one biocompatible fluid substance towards a support body having a matrix surface to obtain a coating layer of a predetermined thickness configured for coating the matrix surface. Furthermore, a handling unit is provided arranged to provide a relative movement according to at least 3 degrees of freedom between the support body and each delivery unit. The support body is arranged to be coated by the delivered biocompatible fluid substance, in order to obtain a three-dimensional object having an object surface copying the matrix surface of the support body.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a biocompatible three-dimensional object including at least one delivery unit arranged to deliver at least one biocompatible fluid substance towards a 3D mold having a matrix surface to obtain a coating layer of a predetermined thickness configured for coating the matrix surface. The three-dimensional object may be a heart valve. Furthermore, a handling unit is provided arranged to provide a relative movement according to at least 3 degrees of freedom between the 3D mold and each delivery unit. The 3D mold is arranged to be coated by the delivered biocompatible fluid substance, in order to obtain a three-dimensional object having an object surface copying the matrix surface of the support body.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a drying tower with grain flow in parallel and sinuous in combination with reverse and radial crossed air flows in form of “Z” oblique for the implementation in the drying of grains, seeds, fodder, and fruit. Therefore, the grains are firstly submitted to a first stage of parallel grains flow and reverse crossed air flow in order to standardize the different degrees of humidity of the grains and of their impurities. In a second moment, these grains are submitted to a sinuous grains flow and radial air flow in the form of oblique “Z”. Such implementation in drying processes of grains upgrades substantially the drying time and the energy spent for such process, generating in this way profit for the food industries.

Abstract: “MULTIPLE INTERMITTENCE BEEHIVE GRAIN DRYER”, refers to a dryer of seeds and other agricultural products that can be a constructive format honeycomb type dryer designed to provide a unprecedented process of multiple intermittence during fast, gentle, non-aggressive drying process of grains and seeds through complete and safe removal of accumulated moisture, being divided into the following stages: drying-resting-drying-resting-drying, and so on until drying is complete. Exposure time to drying air is monitored and allows recirculation of humid air, it also allows batch or continuous drying with a thermally insulated plenum that removes dirty humid air located in the bottom section, without releasing it directly into the environment, with advantages of low production cost, dry grain of much higher quality, better energy efficiency, environmentally friendly and capable of virtually eliminating any accidental risks.

Abstract: Grain flow paths have an upper portion which is a mixed flow portion and which includes a preheat zone and a lower portion which is an undulating moisture equalizer portion and which includes a heat zone. Mixed flow grain diverters extend across the grain flow path substantially perpendicular to longitudinal side walls, and substantially parallel to transverse end walls of the grain flow path. Upper airflow openings are associated with each of the upper diverters. Moisture equalizer lower grain diverters extend along the longitudinal sides grain flow path substantially parallel to the longitudinal side walls, and substantially perpendicular to the transverse end walls of the grain flow path. The burner is positioned outside the airflow path to feed ambient air into the recirculating airflow path, without recirculating airflow passing through the burner.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a housing that includes an inlet for receiving bulk solids having a first temperature, and an outlet for discharging the bulk solids. A plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel heat transfer tubes are disposed within the housing between the inlet and the outlet, for cooling the bulk solids that flow from the inlet into spaces between heat transfer tubes, to a second intermediate temperature, and a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel heat transfer plate assemblies disposed within the housing and interposed between the plurality of heat transfer tubes and the outlet for further cooling the bulk solids that flow from the spaces between heat transfer tubes, to spaces between heat transfer plate assemblies and to the outlet, to a third temperature.

Abstract: The apparatus or “chiller” uses an upward stream of ambient air drawn through the upright housing to cool crumb rubber particles that are deposited into and fall through the housing. The chiller includes an upright chiller housing and an array of internal baffles disposed within the lower section of the housing. Crumb rubber deposited into the chiller housing falls through the upward air flow within the chiller housing and cascades around and through the baffle array before exiting the chiller. The baffle array inside the lower section of the chiller housing slows the fall of the crumb rubber, thereby increasing the dwell time through the chiller to provide enhanced cooling. The baffle array also creates a more turbulent air flow through which the crumb rubber falls. The rising turbulent air mass enhances the transfer of thermal energy from the falling crumb rubber.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for drying small articles in a process container, such as closure elements of pharmaceutical vessels after a treatment of the closure elements, an air-permeable support is arranged beneath the articles to support them and prepared preheated air is fed to the interior of the process container and through the support to dry the articles while they are resting on the support. An additional air mass flow is at least once briefly passed under the support during the drying operation, to lift and thereby turn the small articles to ensure at least substantially complete drying thereof.

Abstract: A spout-fluid bed drying system and process is comprised of a spout-fluid bed dryer having a conical shaped lower section provided with a packing of heat exchange particles. A cyclone separator is connected to the top of the dryer with separated particles collected by a receiver connected to the leg of the cyclone. A vapor fan compresses the air-vapor mixture before it goes to the heat recuperator and mixing chamber. A tube-shell type heat exchanger, wherein effluent gases from the vapor fan are preheated with heat exchange with the outcoming high temperature gases. A combustion and incineration chamber wherein a natural gas burner is installed at the top and the high temperature flame is used to incinerate the effluent gases introduced from the annulus channel of the chamber to have the odors and VOCs destroyed.

Abstract: A module used with a granular material dryer, such as a grain dryer. The module includes an outer wall, at least one channel and at least one outlet aperture. The channel is positioned relative to the wall such that the channel is in fluid communication with heated air otherwise passing through the dryer. The outlet aperture is in communication with a suction mechanism. Finally, the channel is associated with the outlet aperture such that the heated air will enter the outlet aperture, via activation of the suction mechanism, whereas the granular material will not occlude the channel or the outer aperture. In one preferred embodiment, the module of the present invention is configured to be insertable with an existing dryer to improve drying efficiency.

Abstract: When drying a paper web (4) in a dryer section (1) of a paper machine provided with drying cylinders (2, 3) and drying wires (5, 6), shrinkage of the paper web in cross direction is counteracted by applying forces at its edge portions (11). According to the invention partial vacuum is maintained along the edge portions of the web within substantially the entire free draw (10) and is applied from the side of the drying wire (5, 6) facing away from the web (4) so that the web is sucked firmly against the drying wire by forces greater than the contracting forces acting in cross direction, thereby counteracting shrinking, said partial vacuum being set within the interval 0.1-0.8 bar, preferably 0.2-0.5 bar.

Abstract: A spout-fluid bed drying system and process is comprised of a spout-fluid bed dryer having a conical shaped lower section provided with a packing of heat exchange particles. A cyclone separator is connected to the top of the dryer with separated particles collected by a receiver connected to the leg of the cyclone. A vapor fan compresses the air-vapor mixture before it goes to the heat recuperator and mixing chamber. A tube-shell type heat exchanger, wherein effluent gases from the vapor fan are preheated with heat exchange with the outcoming high temperature gases. A combustion and incineration chamber wherein a natural gas burner is installed at the top and the high temperature flame is used to incinerate the effluent gases introduced from the annulus channel of the chamber to have the odors and VOCs destroyed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dryer for uniform drying of moisture laden particulate material. The dryer comprises a substantially vertical tower having a top, a bottom, side walls, a moist material inlet, a moist material distribution section below the inlet, a drying section below the distribution section and a cooling section below the drying section. The drying section contains a heated air inlet and air exhaust assemblies, wherein the air exhaust assemblies are formed from a plurality of discharge chambers extending horizontally across the tower between the side walls for flow of particulate material therebetween. Each discharge chamber contains at least one horizontally disposed exhaust tubular member having an aperture in the lower portion of the tubular member for exhausting air. Each discharge chamber also contains at least one aperture in the upper portion thereof for receiving air.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drying hopper comprising, disposed in its lower position, a cone portion having diameters gradually decreasing toward a lower end thereof, in which a high temperature gas is injected toward powder descending in the cone portion to thereby dry the powder, wherein said drying hopper comprises a cone portion 11 having a slant, circular wall, said cone portion 11 having a plurality of vertically spaced rows of nozzles 20, formed through the circular wall, disposed at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the circular wall; a plurality of vertically spaced ring-like shells 21 fluidtightly attached to an external surface of the circular wall of the cone portion 11 with interstices therebetween in positions such that said plurality of rows of nozzles 20 are respectively, at gas inlets thereof, covered by said plurality of ring-like shells 21; and a plurality of gas feed pipes 22 respectively connected to said plurality of ring-like shells 21 in communicating relationship.

Abstract: The apparatus provides a recirculating normal batch, concurrent flow, grain dryer and an alternate small batch countercurrent flow grain dryer. Hot drying air is provided by an external conventional burner and air fan. For the normal batch, the hot air is forced to a central plenum in the grain holding bin where it radiates outwardly into horizontal conduits then passes downwardly through the grain as it moves under gravity and exits at a lower lever to the atmosphere through horizontal conduits. The gravity forced flow of grain is recirculated to the bins upper area by a centrally located elevating auger. A pivotal roof portion of the hot air inlet flues when pivoted downwardly provides a countercurrent alternate path for the hot air for small batch drying. "V" plate ribs support an inverted "V" ring cone on the lower and inner cone of the bin for proper grain flow control.

Abstract: A heating and drying apparatus for powdery or granular materials, including a hollow column consisting of an upper disaggregation heat-exchange chamber having a plurality of baffle plates disposed therein arrayed in multiple stages with gap spaced retained between the adjacent baffle plates in the vertical and horizontal directions and a lower fluidized state heat-exchange chamber connected in series wth the upper chamber, a feeder of a material to be treated and an exhaust gas outlet port, both provided at the top portion of the upper chamber, and a heating gas inlet port and a treated material discharge device, both provided at the bottom portion of the lower chamber.

Abstract: Packing for a column for treating solid particles by direct contact between an ascending gas current and solid particles flowing countercurrent by gravity within the packing. The packing has an ordered structure, consisting of superposition of at least two stacking elements (1,12), each comprising shaped elements (2, 9) arranged parallel between themselves and with regular spacing, said spacing providing a passage opening between two neighboring shapes between 3 and 20 times, preferably 7 and 15 times, the average granulometry of said particles, and the vertical projection of the shaped elements completely covering a horizontal section of the column. This packing is very specially recommended in the presence of particles with a granulometry greater than 2 mm or having mediocre flow characteristics.

Abstract: On the bottom surface of a store or silo for granular material is placed a system of air channels, which are at one end connected both with an outlet sluice for the grain material and with a blower housing, which is also connected with the free atmosphere. The blower housing is switchable between blowing drying air into the grain through the channels and through wall openings therein and sucking out air from the channels for outlet conveying the grain inwardly through the wall openings and further through the channels to the outlet sluice. By this suction emptying arrangement dust problems in the store are eliminated, and the necessary motor effect is surprisingly low.

Abstract: Transfer apparatus comprising a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for particulate solid material and a inlet and outlet for fluid to flow in countercurrent or cocurrent to the solid material, and a packing within the vessel, the packing including a plurality of layers of bars (60 to 68) extending generally horizontally across the vessel, the bars of each layer being substantially parallel to one another and having a spacing between adjacent bars which is substantially the same for the bars of said layer. The parallel bars of each layer extend transversely, preferably perpendicular, to the parallel bars of the adjacent layer of layers.

Abstract: The grain dryer of the present invention includes a housing having two spaced apart vertical partitions therein which divide the housing into a central compartment, a front compartment and a rear compartment. Air intake openings are provided in the two vertical partitions so as to provide communication from the central compartment to the two front and rear compartments through the two partitions. The front and rear walls of the housing are also provided with exhaust openings which permit air to exit from the front and rear compartments outwardly through the front and rear walls respectively. A first group of ventilator members are located within the front and rear compartments and are connected to the inlet openings within the partitions for guiding air into the front and rear compartments from the central compartments.

Abstract: In a rotary apparatus for the production of layered glass batch pellets there is provided a dryer for final drying of the pellets prior to their being fed to a melting furnace.

Abstract: Moving bed filter for purifying a fluid formed of gas and/or vapor, the filter having a flow of loose particulate material downwardly from above, and a continuous flow upwardly from below of a fluid to be filtered, and including a container filled with the loose particulate material and having at least one closeable inlet opening at the top thereof for introducing the loose particulate material, and a downwardly tapering bottom having a closeable outlet port for discharging the loose particulate material, fluid inlet ports disposed in a bottom region and fluid exhaust tubes arranged in an upper region of the container and extending parallel to one another from one container wall to the opposite container wall, and being provided at inflow and at outflow sides thereof with an upper roof cover and a lower V-profile cover, respectively, serving as a flow-equalizing symmetrical flow guide element for the loose particulate material, a support grate formed of downwardly directed V-shaped cover of sieve-like constru

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the slow cooling of grain in which warm grain is introduced into the upper end of a silo and cooling air is introduced at the lower end and is evacuated at an intermediate point between the upper and lower ends of the silo. The warm grain descends through the silo in a non-ventilated space above the intermediate point where the internal moisture is removed, then into a ventilated space where it is cooled by the cooling air and finally to the lower end of the silo from which the cooled grain is extracted.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying particulate material wherein the particulate material is passed through an enclosed chamber. A heated fluid is introduced into a portion of the enclosed chamber to heat and absorb the moisture from the particulate material. A cooling fluid is introduced into a portion of the enclosed chamber to cool and absorb moisture from the heated particulate material. The particulate material is recirculated through the enclosed chamber until the desired degree of drying is achieved.

Abstract: Coke is dry cooled in a shaft-like cooler by gases conveyed through the coke. The cooler comprises a top antechamber below a charging opening, a cooling chamber under the antechamber and having a gas inlet and a coke outlet at the bottom end. Between the antechamber and the cooling chamber, there is a cylindrical wall having a gas inlet. The cooling chamber is divided by radial walls which abut a central masonry core and divide the chamber into three shaft-like chambers to insure uniform descending of the coke. A prop is placed at the center of each component shaft for deflecting the descending coke from a central region. Cooling gas is supplied through a pipe having a downwardly-directed opening below a central masonry core. Additional cooling gas is supplied by an annular chamber surrounding a cone at a coke outlet of the cooling chamber.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a grain dryer having a heat exchange assembly is provided. The grain dryer comprises a housing and a generally vertical granular-material conduit for conducting granular material through the housing. The heat exchange assembly of the dryer comprises heat exchange means having a gas passageway and at least one tubular radiator element disposed in the passageway. Means is provided for causing hot combustion gas to flow through the hollow interior of the radiator element to heat the element, with the temperature of the discharged combustion gas being reduced. A gas conduit directs the flow of discharged combustion gas from the tubular radiator element through the passageway of the heat exchange means externally of the tubular radiator element to increase the temperature of the discharged combustion gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for preheating particulate material in which the particulate material is transferred from an upper storage bin to a lower annular flow passage by a plurality of connecting chutes and the particulate material is preheated in the annular flow passage by hot kiln gases flowing in countercurrent heat exchange relationship with the particulate material and, in addition, by hot kiln gases introduced into the annular flow passage from the lower regions of radially extending ducts.

Abstract: A method of producing abrasion resistant coke from brown coal briquets in a shaft furnace comprises charging the coke briquets into the top of the furnace and removing coke from the bottom of the furnace while directing inert hot combustion gases into the furnace and through the briquets at a plurality of vertically spaced levels throughout the height of the shaft furnace. Gases are directed at temperatures to effect and successively lower stages of the furnace the preheating, predrying, carbonization, and cooling of the charge.

Abstract: A method of producing abrasion resistant coke from brown coal briquets in a shaft furnace comprises charging the coke briquets into the top of the furnace and removing coke from the bottom of the furnace while directing inert hot combustion gases into the furnace and through the briquets at a plurality of vertically spaced levels throughout the height of the shaft furnace. Gases are directed at temperatures to effect and successively lower stages of the furnace the preheating, predrying, carbonization, and cooling of the charge. Gases are collected in each of the preheating and predrying stages by the use of a tubular suction arm which extends substantially across the width of the furnace and includes a performated bottom and sidewalls which extend partly below the bottom and are provided with a saw-tooth configuration so as to withdraw the gases through the space below the bottom and through the perforations of the bottom and to effect entrainment of dust from the charge in so doing.

Abstract: In a device for raising the temperature of a plurality of solids which utilizes a heating chamber having at least one hot flue gas inlet and one or more solids inlet apertures to supply concurrent flows of solids and hot flue gas to a heating chamber, and, which utilizes at least one disengager to deflect the heated solids and prevent the solids from being exhausted from the heating chamber along with the hot flue gas, means are provided for coaxially mounting at least one hot flue gas outlet downstream of and displaced from at least one of the solids inlet apertures. Additionally, an individual disengager is associated with each hot flue gas outlet, each disengager being coaxially aligned with and positioned intermediate its associated hot flue gas outlet and a corresponding solids inlet aperture. Each individual disengager is positioned within a direct flow path of solids from a single solids inlet aperture, to prevent thermal stressing of the individual disengager.

Abstract: This invention comprises an apparatus and process for drying and/or heating materials. This invention was designed for use in the production of charcoal from wood feed material; however, it can be used to heat and/or dry many types of materials. Feed material is disposed in a reactor, wherein there is provided a first array of input channels extending through said feed material, through which hot gases are introduced into said feed material, and a second array of output channels extending through said feed material to collect and exit those hot gases and any gases or vapors derived from the heating and/or drying of the feed material.

Abstract: A concurrent-countercurrent flow type grain dryer is described having an improved wet grain-hot air contacting arrangement. The dryer includes a wet grain bin having a horizontal floor assembly with a plurality of uniformly spaced openings with a tube member extending downwardly beneath each such opening. These tubes have insulated side walls and serve to deliver wet grain in response to gravity from the bin into a drying chamber. A hot air inlet duct is provided adjacent the tube members to deliver hot air into the space between the tube members and downwardly through a bed of grain in the drying chamber. The bottom of the drying chamber has metering grain outlets as well as cooling air inlet ducts, while air exhaust duct are provided intermediate the hot and cooling air inlets.

Abstract: A concurrent-countercurrent air flow grain dryer of the type having an enclosed bin with a wet grain inlet at the top and a dry grain outlet at the bottom includes means for introducing hot air near the top of the bin to serve as a drying medium for the grain in a flow concurrent with the grain. Means are provided at the bottom of the bin to introduce cool air which flows countercurrent to the grain flow. An exhaust is provided intermediate where the hot and cool air are introduced. A manifold for the exhaust directs parts of the exhaust air through the hot air inlet portion of the dryer. In this manner, at least a portion of the exhaust air is recycled prior to ultimate exhaust from a vent associated with the exhaust manifold.

Abstract: The shaft cooler comprises a plurality of power-driven adjacent horizontal hollow perforated comminuting rolls. An upper section of the shaft cooler is adapted to hold a layer of material from 50 to 100 cm. deep above the rolls. Cooling air is supplied to the interior of each roll to cause it to be discharged into such layer of material. An aftercooling section below the rolls is provided with means for indirect cooling of the comminuted material and has a depth which is several times that of said layer.

Abstract: An improved concurrent flow, counterflow continuous type grain dryer includes bottom cold air inlet ducts for counterflow of cold air, a first and second set of upper horizontal hot air inlet ducts connected with a common hot air manifold for concurrent flow of hot air, intermediate exhaust ducts transverse to the inlet ducts and connected with the hot air manifold for recycling of exhaust air through the inlet ducts, and separate upper, transverse exhaust ducts vented to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A module used with a granular material dryer, such as a grain dryer. The module includes an outer wall, at least one channel and at least one outlet aperture. The channel is positioned relative to the wall such that the channel is in fluid communication with heated air otherwise passing through the dryer. The outlet aperture is in communication with a suction mechanism. Finally, the channel is associated with the outlet aperture such that the heated air will enter the outlet aperture, via activation of the suction mechanism, whereas the granular material will not occlude the channel of the outer aperture. In one preferred embodiment, the module of the present invention is configured to be insertable with an existing dryer to improve drying efficiency.