Abstract: The present application discloses forming self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) by exposing the substrate at least twice to SAM precursors with intervening cooling of a substrate.

Abstract: A fluidized bed system is a single unitary modular system that packages a circulation fan, a fluidized bed, and a dust collection system within a same structure. The structure is formed to include internal ducts to provide fluid communication between the circulation fan, the fluidized bed, and the dust collection system. The fan provides a flow of air via a pressure duct to the fluidized bed. Particulate is separated from particles included on the fluidized bed by the flow of air being uniformly distributed to the fluidized bed. Particulate separated in a disengagement area and suspended in the flow of air is conducted through a particulate clearance space surrounding the dust collection system. The particulate is captured by the dust collection system and conveyed to a location external to the system.

Abstract: A system for drying a wet lactose product stream includes a disperser configured to disperse agglomerated lactose particulates in a wet lactose stream into a dispersed wet lactose stream. A back-mixed partial drying zone is configured to at least partially dry the dispersed wet lactose stream by recirculating a partially dried lactose stream with the dispersed wet lactose stream. A plug-flow secondary drying zone is configured to dry the partially dried lactose stream to generate a substantially dried lactose stream.

Abstract: In a method and equipment for continuous sintering of pelletized mineral material, a partition wall (7, 8) arranged between two adjacent cooling chambers (4, 5; 5, 6) is in the height direction placed at a distance from the pellet bed (2), so that in between the partition wall (7, 8) and pellet bed (2), there is left a gap (s) that allows gas to flow between two adjacent cooling chambers (4, 5; 5; 6) through the gap (s) in order to equalize the pressure between the cooling chambers.

Abstract: A process for removing water and solutes from the lumens of green wood, while leaving the cell walls throughout the wood uniformly fully swollen, comprises subjecting the green wood to supercritical carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous storage and drying of sewage sludge, comprising the following steps: a) mechanically dewatering the sewage sludge down to a dry substance concentration of 10 to 35 percent; b) applying the dewatered sewage sludge to a floor of a greenhouse-type drying hall in which a transparent building envelope forms the roof over the floor; c) drying the sewage sludge using solar radiation that radiates into the drying hall; d) mechanically dewatering additional sewage sludge down to a dry substance concentration of 10 to 35 percent; e) introducing the dewatered additional sewage sludge into the drying hall and mixing the additional sewage sludge with the sewage sludge already in the drying hall; f) drying said mixture using solar radiation that radiates into the drying hall; and g) evacuating the mixture from the drying hall or repeating steps d) to f), wherein in step e), the additional sewage sludge is mixed with the mixture in the drying hall rather than with the s

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a pneumatic dryer for removal of liquid from the surface of particulate. The dryer finds application in drying water from coal using air as a drying gas. A significant mechanism of the removal of liquid from particulate is the shearing of liquid without a phase change from the particulate surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying sludge, in particular sewage sludge, by creating a granulate from the dried product. A mixture of a carrier material consisting of recycled sludge which has already been dried and liquid sludge is fed to a dryer 6. The dried product is fed to a solids separator 8 after the dryer 6 and is stored intermediately in the former in an intermediate container that is placed immediately downstream of the separator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conditioning fibrous substances, especially wood fibers that are dried in a dryer. In a substantially closed drying circuit (1) a vapor-gas mixture is guided in said dryer as a circulating gas (referred to as vapors) that is separated from the dried fibers (6) in a separator (5) once it has passed the drier, and is then returned to a first heat exchanger (7) connected to the drying circuit (1). Gas is heated in a furnace (11) and is supplied to the heat exchanger to heat the vapors. A partial flow (8) of the vapors is coupled out upstream of the first heat exchanger (7) when seen in the direction of the drying circuit (1), heated in a second heat exchanger (10) and is then supplied to the furnace (11) and combusted. In order to reduce emissions and save energy, the partial flow (8) of vapors coupled out, before being heated in the second heat exchanger (10), is cooled in a vapor condenser (9) and depleted, and the resulting condensation product (14) is fed out.

Abstract: In an apparatus for a treatment of a wafer at elevated temperatures, the wafer is taken out of the reactor after heat treatment with the help of a mechanical transport apparatus which preferably grips the wafer around the circumference and on the under side. The transport apparatus includes a wafer surrounding ring. The wafer is placed in a floating wafer reactor where it is cooled in a controlled manner. Transport for further action or treatment then takes place.

Abstract: A drying station for drying printed sheets transported by a transport belt includes an irradiation device for irradiating the printed sheets, a deflection section located in vicinity of the irradiation device for guiding the transport belt away from the irradiation device, and a shielding device disposed between the transport belt and the irradiation device for shielding the transport belt against radiation from the irradiation device while the sheets are exposed to the radiation. A printing machine including the drying station and a method for drying printed sheets are also provided.

Abstract: A method of treating drill cuttings containing a detectable amount of hydrocarbon-based drilling fluid comprises injecting a non-toxic additive to the cuttings and mixing the cuttings and additive to the point where the amount of hydrocarbon-based drilling fluid is less than 1% by weight. The method of treating cuttings includes the additional step of taking the mixture of cuttings and additive and disposing of the mixture directly to the soil, preferably in the immediate vicinity of the well site. A system is provided for carrying out the method, including structure for adding a quantity of an chemical additive to cuttings carrying a quantity of drilling fluid. The system further provides a controller to determine the cuttings load within the system, and controls to vary the quantity of treatment chemicals added to the cuttings according to the cuttings load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for staging or cooling a substrate between high temperature thermal processing steps. In the disclosed embodiment, one or more cooling stations are located off-line within a wafer handling chamber, outside the thermal processing chamber. After thermal processing, a hot wafer can be loaded on to one station, where the wafer is subjected to forced convection cooling. In particular, the wafer is subjected to cooling gas from above and below through perforated upper and lower showerhead assemblies. The wafer can thus be cooled rapidly on a station while other wafers are transferred into and out of the processing chamber. Desirably, the wafer is cooled on the station to a point at which it can be handled by a low temperature wafer handler and stored in a low temperature cassette.

Abstract: Apparatus, method and system for the treatment of a wafer. After a treatment at elevated temperature, a wafer is taken out of the reactor in question with the help of a mechanical transport apparatus which preferably grips the wafer around the circumference and on the under side and consists of a wafer surrounding ring. The wafer is then placed in a floating wafer reactor where it is cooled in a controlled manner. Transport for further action or treatment then takes place.

Abstract: A process for de-watering foodstuffs, such as leafy vegetables, includes moving the foodstuffs along a path, creating an upwardly moving air vortex which intersects the path, thereby raising the foodstuffs upwardly from the path while swirling them in a vortical manner. The foodstuffs raised above the path are received in one end of a duct, the other end of which deposits them on a conveying means. Preferably, the foodstuffs are moved by an air-permeable transport means such as an endless belt. The upwardly moving vortex is created by an air blower which forces air through a tubular portion that contains helically oriented vanes having a tighter and tighter helix in the downstream direction.

Abstract: A process for treatment of metathesis catalysts for olefins comprises sending the particles of catalysts through at least one vibratory helicoidal conveyor, subject the particles over at least a portion of their path and preferably over a large portion of their path to a temperature profile, and bringing the particles into contact with at least one fluid over at least a portion of their path. A vibratory helicoidal lifting device (12) makes it possible to regenerate metathesis catalysts for olefins: it comprises a combustion zone (14) and a calcination zone (15), as well as a preheating zone, a zone for stripping hydrocarbons and a zone for cooling the catalyst.

Abstract: In a chisel-type convergence for a chip bin in a wood chip pulping process and system, an improvement in uniformity of discharge of the chips from a chips bin or the like is provided. The bin includes a conventional hollow substantially right circular cylindrical first, upper, body portion, a second, hollow transition, portion connected to the bottom of the first portion, and a third transition portion, below the second portion and above a metering device, such as a metering screw or a star-feeder. The third transition operates less than full of chips, and provides relief from chip compaction. The third transition portion may include stationary or movable baffles, and/or a metering screw may be provided which can pivot downwardly in order to minimize or eliminate the thrusting force against the bin or upper chips to facilitate discharge.

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: In a process and an apparatus (1) for spray drying or spray cooling of the so-called Filtermat.RTM. type, a more uniform product layer (7) is achieved by collecting and/or treating the product on a screen means (8, 14, 19) providing a pressure difference being at least 1.5, preferably from 1.5 to 30 and particularly from about 2 to about 20 times that provided by the product layer, when collected.

Abstract: A fluid-bed drying unit, particularly but not exclusively used in the field of tobacco drying comprising a drying chamber having a loading inlet and an outlet for discharging the product and provided with openings for the passage of a drying medium. The drying chamber has a substantially tubular shape extending along a longitudinal axis and a substantially triangular vertical cross-sectional shape; the longitudinal axis is substantially inclined with respect to a horizontal axis and means are provided to inject a drying fluid substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method for injecting a liquid directly into a fluidised bed and a configuration of at least one twin nozzle in which a gas is used to atomise the liquid and each nozzle permits a dispersion of liquid into a vessel containing the fluidised bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for cooling a substrate between high temperature thermal processing steps. In the disclosed embodiment, one or more cooling stations are located off-line within a wafer handling chamber, just outside the thermal processing chamber. After thermal processing, a hot wafer can be loaded on to the cooling station, where the wafer is subjected to forced convection cooling. In particular, the wafer is subjected to cooling gas from above and below through perforated upper and lower shower head assemblies. The wafer can thus be cooled rapidly on a cooling station while other wafers are transferred into and out of the processing chamber. Desirably, the wafer is cooled on the cooling station to a point at which it can be handled by a low temperature wafer handler and stored in a low temperature cassette.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for agitation-free, low temperature drying of fragile, temperature sensitive, granular materials at atmospheric pressure using Radio Frequency (RF) energy to provide the heat of evaporation. A relatively low velocity flow of purge air through either a continuously moving or stationary product bed provides means for removing moisture from the product at atmospheric pressure. The purge air is maintained at a controlled humidity, temperature and velocity, and the intensity of the RF field is controlled in response to temperature sensing means to control the temperature of the product. For the case of a continuously moving product bed the RF applicator is preferably divided into multiple zones, which may be independently controlled, to effect control of the moisture and temperature profile of the product as it passes through the apparatus.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the drying or kilning of malt in a substantially continuous operation. The malt is transported through one or more separate drying zones by means of fluid bed dryer units at which time tempered or conditioned air at a predetermined temperature and moisture content is passed through the malt to effect a drying of the malt. The rate of malt movement through the drying zones is varied according to the moisture content of the malt at predetermined points in its travel whereby to acheive a desired drying rate and moisture content in the malt as it travels through the various drying zones. Sulfur dioxide gas is selectively infused with the air in the drying zones to minimize carcinogens within the malt. Optional treatments are provided for the malt as it passes through the drying zones, including subjecting the malt to a vacuum to facilitate moisture removal and to effect a sanitizing of the malt.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a particulate material containing an inflammable component, such as ethanol or another solvent, comprises a fluidized bed chamber with a perforated bed plate arranged therein. The particulate material may be fluidized on the bed plate by supplying fluidizing air upwardly through perforations in the bed plate. In order to reduce the risk of explosion in the fluidizing air after its passage through the fluidized bed formed on the bed plate, dilution gas is fed into the fluidized bed chamber. The dilution gas is introduced into the fluidized bed chamber at least at one position spaced from the side walls of the chamber and preferably located centrally within the fluidized bed chamber in order to obtain a substantially uniform mixing of the dilution gas with the fluidizing air including the inflammable component immediately above the fluidized bed. The explosion safe gas mixture may be discharged from the upper part of the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method and device for removing solid residues from a gas purification installation are presented. After discharge of a batch of solid residues into a first closed vessel, the vessel is isolated with respect to the gas purification installation. At least one pressurized purge gas is then passed through this batch of solid residues, so as to create a static or fluidized bed of the solid residues. The purge gases are then removed in a controlled manner from the first closed vessel. The solid residues are removed into a transport pipe and are transported through the pipe in suspension in a pressurized gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating the sand discharge by means of a discharge pipe located on the opposite side of a sand charging means of a fluidized bed kiln in connection with the thermal regeneration of old foundry sand, in which the base of the fluidized bed kiln has openings through which the hot gases pass into the fluidized bed. The method is characterized in that the sand exit from the discharge pipe (4) is freed by increasing the air supply in a pneumatic conveyor (5) following the fluidized bed kiln (1) through its perforated base (7) in such a way that the pouring cone (6) formed between the end of the discharge pipe (4) and the base (7) is decreased and consequently the exit of the discharge pipe (4) is freed.

Abstract: A bulk material reactor which has a travelling bed (3) made up of the bulk material held inside a reactor housing (1), with an input assembly (14, 15) on the top and an outlet assembly (4) on the bottom of the travelling bed, a gas supply line (10) and a gas discharge line (18) at different ends of the travelling bed (3), wherein the travelling bed (3) is disposed around a central column (2), the floor (6) of which adjoins the discharge assembly (4), holding the bulk material at an angle of repose; it possesses an advantageous gas supply and can thereby be combined into major reactor assemblies without difficulty, because the interior of the central column (2) constitutes the gas line (10) and the central column (2) has an outlet opening (11) in its floor (6).

Abstract: A fluidized type paint powder tank has a fluidizing chamber for fluidizing paint powder and a storage chamber into which the paint powder in the fluidizing chamber is fed to keep it still. There is also provided a paint supply device for an electrostatic powder painting apparatus that includes a paint tank for containing paint powder and a painting gun coupled to the paint tank through an injector and a hose. The device includes a discharge member for discharging the paint powder from the paint tank and a hopper for receiving the paint powder discharged by the discharge member. A screw feeder is provided under the hopper. With this arrangement, the paint powder supplied at a uniform rate by the screw feeder is fed into the injector.