Abstract: A system is provided for drying precipitation from protective eyewear of the type worn by a motorcyclist or other person operating a vehicle when the operator is exposed to the elements. A compressor delivers compressed air to an air tank which is, in turn, connected through a conduit to the eyewear. An activation switch is operated to open a solenoid valve, which allows air to be transmitted through the conduit from the air tank to the glasses. One or more discharge openings of the conduit are directed at the lens(es) of the eyewear such that when the activation switch is closed, compressed air is delivered through the discharge opening(s) and directed toward the lens(es) to dry the eyewear.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the vacuum drying of capillary porous bulk materials. The method involves preheating of the material, its loading into the vacuum drying chamber having heating elements followed by cycle-by-cycling heating of the material and vacuum creation in the rapid vacuum impulse action mode with stage-by-stage single or multiple reduction of pressure in the range from 0.1 MPa to 0.0001 MPa followed by the exposure to vacuum unless the material temperature is stabilized. Said cycles are repeated unless the required material moisture is achieved. Cooling of the material is performed in the same drying chamber by alternating cooling in spouted bed and vacuum impulse action. The device comprises two vacuum chambers cone-shaped at their bases with heaters mounted inside them, material loading/unloading system, one or several receivers with pumps connected in parallel to them and connected via vacuum pipeline system with quick-acting valves to the drying chamber inlet.

Abstract: Systems and processes may be used for continuously processing a solid material at a non-atmospheric pressure. In some examples, the material is delivered to a process vessel at substantially the same non-atmospheric pressure condition as the process vessel so as to avoid shearing the material. In some examples, the solid material is continuously fed into a process vessel, continuously processed in the process vessel, and continuously discharged from the process vessel.

Abstract: A coffee bean roasting apparatus for commercial application, which provides uniform roasting of coffee beans under conditions of accurate control of product properties and without risk of damaging of the beans. This is achieved by roasting the beans in a fluidized bed of hot air directed to the beans contained in a cylindrical roasting chamber through a plurality of nozzles located in the roast chamber plenum and oriented in a tangential direction to imaginary concentric circles inside the contours of the tapered distribution plate that separates the roast chamber from the roast chamber plenum and supports the aforementioned nozzles. A predetermined pressure of hot-air blower and tangential direction of the nozzles provide movement of the entire mass of fluidized coffee beans during roasting in a circular direction as a unity substantially without relative movement of the beans with respect to each other and with excellent and uniform heat-transfer conditions between the beans.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a substrate dryer, a substrate treating apparatus including the substrate dryer, and a substrate treating method. The substrate dryer includes a chamber, a process chamber constituting one part of the chamber and provided for supplying supercritical fluid to a substrate to dry the substrate, and a high-pressure chamber constituting the other part of the chamber and provided for boosting the process chamber above a critical pressure. According to the present invention, the substrate drying chamber is boosted fast by the high-pressure chamber to change to a supercritical state and thus a substrate dry treatment is performed using supercritical fluid.

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: Glassy articles are prepared by subjecting to hydrolysis and policondensation a solution or suspension of a suitable precursor, mainly comprising a silicon alkoxide, and by drying the obtained gel in a pressure chamber, the gel solvent having been substituted by a non-protic solvent, mainly acetone, under nitrogen flowing, at temperature and pressure conditions lower than the gel solvent critical values. The dried gel is then densified by a thermal treatment.

Abstract: Solid material, e.g., coal, is upgraded, e.g., the water content reduced and the BTU value increased, by a method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying the solid material to a reactor; (b) heating the solid material in the reactor under water saturation pressure conditions and removing water from the solid material; and (c) cooling the solid material by depressurising the solid material under water saturation conditions.

Abstract: A continuous process for the drying and gel formation of solvent-containing gel-forming polymers, in particular polysaccharide derivatives, by flash cooling of suspensions of the polymers, and an apparatus for the drying of solvent-containing products are described. The process comprises the steps: metering the solvent-containing polymer having a solids content of 1 to 65% by weight and at a pressure of in particular ambient pressure to 6000 hPa, at a polymer temperature of 20 to 100° C. into an evaporation zone (1), the evaporation zone (1) having a pressure of 0.1 hPa to 800 hPa, cooling the polymer, in particular to a temperature of <93° C.

Abstract: In a web transporting apparatus that transports a web while floating the web by jetting air from jetting holes formed in a transporting surface to the web, edge rollers that is rotatable and supports edges of the web are provided at both ends of the transporting surface. The web is transported while the edges of the web are supported by the edge rollers, and thus a floating amount of the web can be kept. Also, the supplied air can be prevented from escaping from a space between the transporting surface and the web through the edges of the web, and the web can be stably floated and transported with little air.

Abstract: A continuous process for the drying and gel formation of solvent-containing gel-forming polymers, in particular polysaccharide derivatives, by flash cooling of suspensions of the polymers, and an apparatus for the drying of solvent-containing products are described. The process comprises the steps: metering the solvent-containing polymer having a solids content of 1 to 65% by weight and at a pressure of in particular ambient pressure to 6000 hPa, at a polymer temperature of 20 to 100° C. into an evaporation zone (1), the evaporation zone (1) having a pressure of 0.1 hPa to 800 hPa, cooling the polymer, in particular to a temperature of <93° C.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing contamination of a substrate in a substrate processing system. The apparatus has a substrate support, a gas directing shield circumscribing the substrate support and a shadow ring disposed vertically above the substrate support and gas directing shield for retaining the substrate. The gas directing shield and substrate support define an annular channel that is provided with an edge purge gas. The edge purge gas imparts a force at the edge of a substrate resting on the substrate support the lifts it off the substrate supports and against the shadow ring. The shadow ring further has a plurality of conduits extending from its upper surface to its sidewall to provide a path for the edge purge gas to vent and to impede the flow of process gases under the backside and around the edge of the substrate.

Abstract: Spray drying is performed at increased pressure whereby advantages are obtained as to product characteristics and production capacity. Particulate materials of an amorphous structure and non-dusting high-bulk density powders can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for cooling and reducing fluoride emissions from a hot, spent anode butt removed from an electrolysis cell. The system comprises an elongated fluidised bed cooling chamber comprising particles of alumina and conveyor means for transporting a hot, spent anode butt through the fluidised bed. A lower air distributor is provided for injecting fluidising air into the chamber to create the fluidised bed and an upper air distributor is provided which is adapted to direct fluidised particles into contact with the top surface of the hot anode butt, whereby the fluidised bed surrounds the hot anode butt and serves to simultaneously uniformly cool the hot anode butt and significantly reduce fluoride emissions from the hot anode butt.

Abstract: A process and system for treating sludge are provided. Sludge is dewatered by introducing pressurized air to the sludge, while the sludge is being moved continuously. The air strips the sludge of its water, thus increasing total solids captured with respect to time. The throughput of the system is therefore also increased. In addition, the pressurized air passing through the sludge support purges contaminants from the pores of the support, thus keeping them clean without the necessity to backwash same.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for removing volatile components from a composition utilize a dryer having an inlet chamber and a plurality of channels. A flow restriction is disposed immediately upstream of the inlet of each channel with respect to a direction of flow of the composition through the dryer. The process includes the step of heating the composition at a location upstream of the flow restriction to a temperature above the flashing temperature of at least one of the components at a pressure of the channel inlet and applying a pressure to the heated composition to avoid such flashing. The process further includes the step of passing the pressurized, heated composition through the dryer inlet chamber, the flow restriction, and through the channels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating fluid from a device such as a spherical shaped semiconductor integrated circuit. To this end, one embodiment provides a first area for receiving the device, a reducing area registering with the first area, a first passage centered in the reducing area, and a second passage adjacent the first passage. The pressure inside the first area is greater than the pressure inside the reducing area. Also, the pressure inside the first passage is greater than the pressure inside the second passage. The device moves through the first area and into the reducing area. Once in the reducing area, the device is inclined to enter the first passage while at least part of the fluid is inclined to enter the second passage. As a result, the fluid is thereby separated from the device.

Abstract: The position of a printed web passing through an elongated dryer is shifted laterally during passage of the web through the dryer. A component of the resultant of all of the frictional forces acting on the web is caused to point in the lateral direction of the desired web shaft. This resultant of the frictional forces is obtainable by changing the spacing of blower nozzles, or by changing the pressure of discharged drying fluid across the width of the web.

Abstract: A method for producing continuous and discontinuous fiber metal matrix composites (CFMMC). The method uses aerosolization of finely divided metal powders in a controlled atmosphere which prevents explosions to coat the fibers and then the metal coated fibers are consolidated to form the CFMMC. The composites are useful as heat sinks for electrical components and in applications where a structural reinforced metal matrix composite is needed.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus capable of supplying on a substantially continuous basis an anhydrous agent and water to an area to be cleaned. The cleaning machine includes an inner enclosure disposed in an interior chamber of an outer enclosure. The outer enclosure is designed to enclose the interior chamber. Also, provided in the cleaning apparatus is a system for purging the interior chamber with dry air. The inner enclosure contains the anhydrous agent, which is typically baking soda. The inner enclosure further includes a system for distributing the anhydrous agent to a cleaning nozzle.

Abstract: A processing apparatus comprises at least one wet processing station followed by a dryer in which wet sheet material comes into contact with heated drying air. Sheet material is fed over a static support member which supports the sheet material during drying. A drying unit is positioned opposite to and extending across the support member in a transverse direction, thereby to define a drying space between the support member and the drying unit. Drying air is fed to the drying unit to pass out through a drying air exit into the drying space. The support member includes a plurality of openings to allow drying air to pass therethrough, to ensure that the air flow is substantially the same whether a sheet of photographic material is positioned on the support member or not, while minimising the generation of turbulence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a pressurized reactor system in order to precisely control the temperature within a pressure vessel in order to minimize condensation of corrosive materials from gases on the surfaces of the pressure vessel or contained circulating fluidized bed reactor, and to prevent the temperature of the components from reaching a detrimentally high level, while at the same time allowing quick heating of the pressure vessel interior volume during start-up. Superatmospheric pressure gas is introduced from the first conduit into the fluidized bed reactor and heat derived reactions such as combustion and gassification are maintained in the reactor. Gas is exhausted from the reactor and pressure vessel through a second conduit.

Abstract: A method is described for the treatment of a fabric comprising the introduction of a certain length of the fabric into a treatment device, making an endless loop from the piece of fabric and transporting the loop of fabric within the treatment device. The loop of fabric is subjected during its transport to a certain mechanical and/or heat treatment with the result that in particular the volume, the touch, the surface appearance or the water content of the loop of fabric are specifically changed, and whereby it is possible to adjust the pressure inside the treatment device higher or lower than the ambient temperature.An assembly for the performance of the method comprises a treatment device, in the form of an autoclave which is airtight and closed on all sides. The autoclave comprises to a feeding opening which can be closed gastight and a transport device, whereas the treatment device comprises a source to produce an increased or a decreased pressure.

Abstract: A process and device for operating a drier for at least one of powdered, granulated and pourable materials. During operation of the drier, a drying air current is introduced into a drier and rises through the material to be dried, thus removing moisture therefrom. To reduce the costs of generating a drying air current, the drying air current is drawn from the outlet of a blow molding, stretch-blow forming or other plastic molding process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying particulate materials such as seeds and grains in which an air dryer having at least one drying stage is accompanied by means to create an upwardly vertical air flow having a velocity in the mesh openings at least equal or larger than the suspension speed of the particles to be dried so that they are temporarily suspended until enough accumulate to provide sufficient weight or downward pressure for the particles to overcome the upward air flow, pass downward through one or more mesh screens and reach the bottom of the dryer. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for effecting chemical and/or physical reactions.