With Additional Treating Of Recirculated Portion (e.g., Heating, Cooling, Separating) Patents (Class 34/378)
  • Patent number: 9855524
    Abstract: In the honeycomb rotor recovery concentration apparatus which collects gas, such as carbon dioxide, from stack gas etc., it collects by the highest possible recovery rate, and condenses to the highest possible concentration, and lessens the amount of energy for recovery concentration as much as possible. Adsorption zone 4, preheating zone 12, low concentration gas purge zone 15, desorption zone 5, high concentration gas purge zone 16, pre-cooling zone 13, and cooling zone 7 are provided to the hand of cut of a rotor. Low concentration gas is prevented from mixing in desorption zone 5, and high concentration gas is prevented from being spilt out from desorption zone 5. Pre-heating zone 12 and pre-cooling zone 13 constitute a circulation circuit, and it raises energy-saving nature by pre-cooling and carrying out preheating heat exchange by gas which circulates through a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SEIBU GIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okano
  • Patent number: 8720080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a room within a building by sealing the room from outside ambient air ingress, heating the room internally, sensing humidity levels within the room, exhausting the air from within the room and drawing in outside ambient air, sensing water content within the room, and repeating the sequence until a dry status indication is received that the water content within the room has been reduced a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: DBK Technitherm Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Jayne, Mark Lee Robinson, Philip Harris, Daniel Court, Andrew Charles Habbershaw
  • Patent number: 8266819
    Abstract: An air drying system for use in a concentrated solar power generation system using a fluid heat transfer medium includes a first vent pipe and a first desiccant pack. The first vent pipe extends from the concentrated solar power generation system and includes a first inlet open to ambient air, and a first outlet open to an interior of the solar power generation system in fluid communication with the fluid heat transfer medium. The first desiccant pack is positioned within the first vent pipe between the first inlet and first outlet and is positioned to reduce moisture content of ambient air flowing into the first vent pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Daniel P. Cap
  • Patent number: 7803253
    Abstract: A dehydration method of a water-containing substance using a liquefied matter, including a step (1) of contacting a liquefied matter of a substance which is in a gas phase under a condition at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure with the water-containing substance, to dissolve contained water in the water-containing substance into the liquefied matter, for obtaining the liquefied matter containing a large amount of water; and a step (2) of vaporizing the substance out of the liquefied matter containing a large amount of water, to thereby separate the substance as the gas from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
    Inventors: Hideki Kanda, Youichi Urakawa
  • Patent number: 7571553
    Abstract: A control user interface for laundry appliances, such as a clothes dryer or washing machine, enables a user to control multiple modes of operation and a variable associated with at least one mode of operation by manipulating a single control element. In one arrangement, the variable is time and multiple time increments are associated with at least one mode of operation. One embodiment includes a rotatable single control knob. Upon detecting the rotation of the control knob, a determination is made whether the currently selected operation mode has associated operation times to be presented to the user. If no associated operation times are presented, the user interface display is updated to reflect the next mode of operation. The operation mode and operation times may be part of different display region within the dryer control user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven John Joerger, Michael Paul Ricklefs, Sean Florian Myers
  • Patent number: 7380348
    Abstract: The invention provides a pneumatic dewatering apparatus (1) for wet product. The apparatus (1) comprises essentially a cyclone chamber (2) connected to a centrifugal fan (3). Various vortex flow forming stations (6), each followed by a vortex shedding station (7), are mounted within the cyclone chamber (2). Tight centripetal vortices are formed and are then shed such that water is delivered out the cyclone chamber (2) into a sump (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Solid Solutions Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Frederick Neilan Seebach
  • Publication number: 20080083133
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system is provided for treating sewage sludge by heating the same in a container to drive off pathogens and/or pasteurize the sewage sludge while the material is tumbled in the container and with moisture gases being) evaporated therefrom and drawn off from the container. After treatment the treated sludge is discharged from the container. There is provided at least one weight-responsive member on which the container is mounted, and a control is provided connected to the one or more weight-responsive member whereby the solids content of the treated material can be determined by measuring the difference in weight of material in the container, before and after moisture is drawn off from the material and prior to its discharge from the drum. The control is preferably effected by means of a computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Richard W. Christy, Robert Van Bramer, Michael Quici
  • Patent number: 7261208
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventors: Giselher Stummer, Christian Maier
  • Patent number: 7001512
    Abstract: A process for treating waste products discharged in a waste water from an animal operation, such as a swine confinement facility includes a holding tank for receiving waste water from the flushing of the facility in which solids to accumulate at the bottom thereof; wherein as conveyor transfers solids from said bottom at a rate preventing agitation of the waste water, to a compactor for removing additional water content and to a product dryer for converting the solids into a dry product. The product dryer includes a water heating system with water lines connected in a closed loop to the holding tank. The heating system thermal treats the circulating waste water and waste solids to a temperature sufficient to reduce undesired constituents therein. The product dryer is vented to a separator for recovering ammonia contents in the waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventor: David Ralph Newsome
  • Patent number: 6931757
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Dieter Greubel, Timon Gruber
  • Patent number: 6748670
    Abstract: Method of drying a medium for producing a porous matrix from a solution, a paste, an extract, a granulated material or such, where a liquid inert agent is fed into a vessel (5) at controlled pressure and amount through a valve (7), transferring the pressurized liquid inert agent to a mixing vessel (4), said mixing vessel (4) also receiving the solution, such as paste, extract or granulated material, through an inlet valve (10), adjusting the pressure and temperature inside the mixing vessel (4) to desired levels by a release valve (6), upon complete mixing of the inert agent with the solution, the mixture is expanded into a porous matrix and injected into a drying circuit through a drying chamber (3), the matrix thereby being kept suspended in the drying chamber by the flowing drying medium, supplied by the blower (2), the matrix moisture being removed from the mixture through a heat exchanger coil comprising a first heat exchanger (11) where the water vapour is condensed and removed from the circuit and fina
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: DTech AS
    Inventors: Ola Jonassen, Ingvald Strømmen, Per Arne Schieflo, Odilio Alves-Filho
  • Patent number: 6622398
    Abstract: A method for processing semiconductor wafers and similar articles has an ozone remover connected to a processing chamber. The ozone remover has a light chamber surrounded by reflectors. Ozone and other processing gases and vapors flow out of the processing chamber and into the light chamber. Ultraviolet lights in the ozone remover flood the light chamber with ultraviolet light, converting ozone into oxygen. The amount of ozone released into the environment is reduced. A recirculation line receives the gases and vapors flowing out of the ozone remover. Oxygen and any remaining ozone are separated from other gas and vapor components and are recycled back to an ozone generator, to increase the ozone generator efficiency in supplying the machine with ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Wayne Thomas
  • Patent number: 6461481
    Abstract: A method of removing water from wet organoborane by dissolving the wet organoborane in an organic solvent in which water is incompletely soluble, decanting any insoluble water, and distilling the organic phase to remove water which may be contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Willie Jon Barnette, Bruce Edwin Murphree, John Joseph Ostermaier
  • Publication number: 20020029491
    Abstract: Moist organic material which is continuously supplied in a stream is dried by passing hot air through the moist organic material in a part of the stream to absorb an amount of moisture, whereby the moist organic material cools the hot air into warm air. The warm air is reheated after it exits the moist organic material to form reheated air with increased capability of absorbing moisture, and the reheated air is passed through the moist organic material further upstream, which has a greater moisture content. The drying can preferably be performed in five minutes or less. A method for drying moist organic material using hot air includes providing the moist organic material in a continuous material stream, and providing the hot air in a continuous air stream. The air stream flows in a direction generally opposite to that of the material stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Conrad F. Fingerson, Donald W. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 6167636
    Abstract: In a process for thermally utilizing wet spent grains (1), the wet spent grains (1) are mechanically predried in a first drying stage (2), thermally dried in a further drying stage (4) and finally thermally utilized by burning or gasification. In order to be able to realize a process of this kind economically, the mechanically dehydrated spent grains (15) in the further drying stage (4) are heated by the aid of a smoke gas occurring within the energy system of a brewery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Brau-Union {umlaut over (O)}sterreich Aktiengesselschaft
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Dieter Pelz, Gerald Zanker
  • Patent number: 6151799
    Abstract: A system and method is described for processing waste citrus peel to remove oil from the peel in a highly efficient manner for subsequent processing, where the temperature of the peel is elevated, the peel is then finely fragmented to create a slurry, the solid particles are removed from the slurry and dried, and the oil is separated from the water in the slurry. The temperature of the peel is elevated by exposing the peel to steam so that minimal water is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Allen Jones
  • Patent number: 6085440
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for drying of a material in the form of a paste or a filter cake in a spin flash dryer. Particles are separated by a classifier (6) in the chamber (1) in such a way that oversize fraction is withheld in the chamber (1) and the desired fraction is removed (3, 9). A possible undesired undersize fraction is strained off and recycled (4, 10, 11) externally back to the dryer chamber (1). The spent drying gas is recycled to the dryer chamber (1). In either, the energy in the spent drying gas may be made use of in a heat exchanger and there is no or only little emission to the environment. Products preferably dried according to the invention are fruit and beet pulps, destillers residues, pesticides, pigments, dyes, ceramics, active coal, sludge and zeolites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: APV Anhydro AS
    Inventor: Jens Getler
  • Patent number: 6006440
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process and apparatus for drying a slurry, particularly a sludge, such as sewage sludge, in which a sludge mixture of recycled dried sludge and wet sludge is fed to a drier. The quantity of wet sludge or recycled dried sludge supplied to the drier is controlled based upon drier inlet temperature. In this way, the evaporation rate of the drier is kept substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Andritz-Payrntverwaltungs-gesellschaft M.B.H.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Wiesenhofer, Giselher Stummer
  • Patent number: 6000144
    Abstract: A method and device for heating and cooling, such as for the sterilization, pasteurization, drying and/or roasting, of food products, such as nuts and beans, for example whole and crushed peanuts and coffee and cocoa beans, comprising bringing the raw food products into contact with a heated granular material, separating of the granular material from the food products after the heat transfer from the heated granular material to the food products, and the subsequent cooling of the food products, the cooling of the food products taking place by means of a granular material which is first conveyed to the product to be cooled and is separated therefrom after the cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventors: Paulus Josephus Theodorus Bussmann, Catharina Elizabeth Krist-Spit
  • Patent number: 5915815
    Abstract: An apparatus method of separating organic mass into its component parts in environmentally contained hygienic conditions at high thermal efficiency. One example is extraction of aromatic oils from citrus fruit. Organic materials derive from plants which contain (A) dry matter; (B) aqueous solutions and (C) secretions. The apparatus and method separates organic mass into these three components to create positive valuable products, frequently from negative value wastes. The apparatus and method utilizes a drying medium comprising a mixture of self derived superheated steam generated from part of the moisture given off by the material itself and air. The apparatus is fully enclosed, thus being environmentally benign and eliminating odors and deleterious emissions common to non-contained and/or direct fired dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Responsible Recycling Limited
    Inventors: Philip Moore, David J Dickinson
  • Patent number: 5915816
    Abstract: A method of preparing an adsorbent which contains a medium, which medium may comprise water. The medium is removed from the adsorbent by a hot regeneration gas, and the adsorbent is then cooled, wherein heat recovered during said cooling is used to heat the regeneration gas in a heat accumulator/exchanger. In order to improve the dewpoint characteristics of the dried gas, the adsorbent is passed successively through the following zones:an adsorption zone in which the adsorbent adsorbs the given medium;a regeneration zone in which the regeneration gas is passed through the adsorbent; anda cooling zone in which heat is withdrawn from the adsorbent, to be transferred to the heat accumulator/exchanger. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the described method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Roderich W. Graff
  • Patent number: 5913589
    Abstract: A combination product cooling and flux management apparatus is mounted above a reflow soldering oven. The apparatus has a sealed housing with four openings: an ambient air inlet, an ambient air outlet, a recirculating gas inlet and a recirculating gas outlet. The recirculating gas blower is mounted in a first end of the housing and draws air into the recirculating gas inlet, through a recirculating gas side of a gas-to-gas heat exchanger and out the recirculating gas outlet, where it is recirculated through a product cooling chamber and back into the recirculating gas inlet. The ambient air blower is mounted in a second end of the housing and draws air into the ambient air inlet, through an ambient air side of the gas-to-gas heat exchanger and out the ambient air outlet to the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Conceptronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Dow, Robert S. Silveri, Omer Kerem Durdag, Thomas A. Sherwin, Mark O. Beaupre
  • Patent number: 5899003
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying of a material containing a volatile component, in which the material is disposed in a bed in a drying zone which is in communication with a closed circuit in which a gaseous drying medium is circulated. Associated with the drying gone is a closed heat pump system including a compressor, at least one condenser in the drying zone, a super heat exchanger and a working medium. The drying zone is supplied with super heat from the super heat exchanger, and the condenser is supplied with working medium from a super heat exchanger, thereby increasing the temperature in the drying zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Sinvent AS
    Inventors: Ingvald Strommen, Kjartan Kramer, Ola Jonassen
  • Patent number: 5814234
    Abstract: A method for decontaminating both soil and mixed waste water polluted by hydrocarbons in a single integrated process is disclosed. Contaminated mixed waste fluid is separated into water and hydrocarbons which are then used in the thermal decontamination of polluted soil through the volatilization of hydrocarbon contaminants. Flue gases containing the volatilized hydrocarbons from the thermal soil decontamination undergo oxidation. Thermal energy from the soil decontamination process and the thermal oxidization of the flue gases can be recovered and used to facilitate the separation of hydrocarbons and water. In this integrated system, every by-product of each step is either decontaminated or consumed in another operation of the system. Energy conservation within this system is also realized by the use of heat exchangers to transfer energy from where it is created by the process to where it is used elsewhere to enhance efficiency within the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Prosys Corporation
    Inventors: C. George Bower, Allan W. Bernat
  • Patent number: 5773061
    Abstract: An agglomerated powder is produced in an apparatus where the product is agglomerated in two stages. First, a liquid concentrated feed of the product is atomized by an atomizer in a drying chamber. The fine particles are transferred to a separating device to be split up in a first and second fraction. The first of these is led to the atomizer in the drying chamber to perform a first agglomeration and the resulting agglomerates are accommodated in an external fluid be in the drying chamber and from this transferred to an external fluid bed. Also the second fraction is transferred to the external fluid bed where water by a second atomizer is atomized over a fluidized layer of agglomerates to perform a second agglomeration of product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: APV Anhydro A/S
    Inventors: Jens Getler, John Ib Hansen, Gert G. Andersen
  • Patent number: 5675910
    Abstract: A recirculating batch peanut drying apparatus including a drying station for heating the peanuts, a tempering station for cooling the peanuts after heating, and a recirculating device which transports the peanuts in a continuous flow between the drying station and the tempering station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Lee E. Norris Construction & Grain Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Lee E. Norris, Daniel L. Norris, Aaron L. Norris
  • Patent number: 5659974
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing and regenerating an adsorbent material which material contains a medium (particularly moisture). The medium is removed from the adsorbent material by a hot regeneration gas, following which the adsorbent material is cooled. In order to improve the energy efficiency ("energy balance") in a process for drying a humid gas, particularly humid air, it is proposed that regeneration offgas be passed through the adsorbent material immediately before the adsorbent material is subjected to (final) regeneration, the regeneration offgas having a lower temperature than the hot regeneration gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Roderich Wilhelm Graeff
  • Patent number: 5596815
    Abstract: A process is provided for drying raw material that comprises solids and a substantial amount of moisture. The process in its basic form involves the steps of forming the raw material into pellets by extrusion under pressure through a forming die into pellets with the solids compacted into a cohesively secured mass and then drying the pellets thus formed to reduce the moisture to a desired percentage. Raw material that has an excessive amount of moisture such that they cannot be extruded are first mixed with a dry material to reduce the moisture content to the point where they can be extruded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Jet-Pro Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Garland G. Rice, David H. Long
  • Patent number: 5575085
    Abstract: An improvement to a coal processing system where hard materials found in the coal may cause jamming of either inflow or outflow rotary airlocks, each driven by a reversible motor. The instantaneous current used by the motor is continually monitored and compared to a predetermined value. If an overcurrent condition occurs, indicating a jamming of the airlock, a controller means starts a "soft" reverse rotation of the motor thereby clearing the jamming. Three patterns of the motor reversal are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Western Syncoal Company
    Inventor: Clifton E. Groombridge
  • Patent number: 5557859
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a crop growing in a field by continuously cutting the crop with a transportable cutter and forming a layer of the cut crop on a moving conveyor. A stream of solar heated air is continuously forced onto the moving crop to reduce its moisture content. Thereafter the crop is continuously formed into bales and the bales accumulated. The crop is processed by continuously cutting, solar drying, baling and accumulating it directly in the field in a one pass operation within a contained, transportable chamber. A dessicant material aids in removing moisture from air used for drying so that dried air can be recirculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Stanley C. Baron
  • Patent number: 5535528
    Abstract: A process and apparatus which mixes yard waste and municipal waste sludge to form fuel, fertilizer, or animal feed supplement. The yard waste and sludge are thoroughly mixed in a mixer and fed into a thermal dryer. A portion of the dried material is then fed back to the mixer to raise the solids content of the mixture entering the dryer and control the solids content of the mixture exiting the dryer. It is preferable to reduce the particle size of the yard waste to shreds or to the consistency of a meal before mixing with the sludge. Yard waste considered usable in this invention is grass, leaves, wood from pallets, and waste grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: By-Product Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Finkam
  • Patent number: 5337496
    Abstract: A system is described for producing small uniform pellets of predetermined size which are substantially free of fines from mechanically dewatered sewage sludge. The system includes a process and apparatus for mixing the dewatered sludge with previously dried, recycled particles of said sludge, drying said mixture in a thermal drier, separating a substantial portion of the dried solids from the drier off gas, clarifying said separated solids to separate the pellets of predetermined size, oversize pellets, and undersize pellets and particles, mechanically crushing the oversize pellets and admixing the crushed oversize pellets with the undersize pellets and particles, and recycling said mixture by mixing said mixture with incoming dewatered sludge to the drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Enviro-Gro Technologies
    Inventor: John D. Glorioso