Abstract: A method includes determining how to adjust one or more manipulated variables using at least one model. The one or more manipulated variables are associated with a sugar dryer. The method also includes generating one or more control signals to control one or more controlled variables associated with the sugar dryer. The one or more controlled variables include an outfall temperature associated with the sugar dryer, and the one or more manipulated variables include a rate at which wet material is provided to the sugar dryer. The sugar dryer could include multiple sugar dryers. At least two of the sugar dryers could operate using different fuels. The one or more control signals could be generated to control the rates at which the wet material is provided to the multiple sugar dryers based on costs associated with the different fuels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a clothes dryer to provide a stationary drying cycle are disclosed. The systems may include a dryer having a drying compartment, a heating element configured to supply heat to the drying compartment and a controller for controlling operation of the dryer. The controller may be configured to cause the drum to remain stationary during the stationary drying cycle, and cause the heating element to supply heat to the drying compartment at a level appropriate for stationary drying. The methods may include receiving, at the controller, a stationary drying cycle setting and receiving, at the controller, an indication to start a drying cycle, wherein the drum remains stationary during the drying cycle.

Abstract: A method of processing at least one garment involves a local environment with ambient moisture, a garment having a moisture content, a plurality of work stations, and a threshold amount of moisture. The plurality of work stations operate according to a plurality of parameters. The threshold amount of moisture is the amount of ambient moisture naturally absorbed by the garment. The method includes a processing step, a measuring step, a determining step and an adjusting step. The garment is processed through at least one of the work stations during the processing step. During the measuring step, the moisture content of the garment is measured. The relationship between the measured moisture content and the threshold amount of moisture is determined during the determining step. And, at least one parameter is adjusted based on the relationship between the measured moisture content and the threshold amount of moisture during the adjusting step.

Abstract: Method for controlling a drying course of a laundry dryer including the steps of (a) starting a drying course by using high temperature drying air, and sensing dryness of a drying object periodically, (b) determining a dryness saturation time point at which the dryness sensed thus exceeds a preset reference value Q, (c) determining a load of the drying object according to the drying saturation time point T_sat, and (d) varying a drying algorithm depending on the load of the drying object determined thus, whereby preventing a small amount of laundry from sticking to a drum in a drying course by varying a control algorithm of the drying motor in a case an amount of the drying object is determined to be small accurately with reference to a saturation time point of an electrode sensor.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film strip and thin film strips formed thereby where the method comprises coating a liner substrate with a wet slurry of film forming ingredients and other components and drying the wet slurry in a drying apparatus to form a film, measuring the moisture content of the film either during of upon exit from the drying apparatus, and storing the film in a minimal moisture loss environment during a curing process.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film strip. The method comprises coating a liner substrate with a wet slurry of film forming ingredients and drying the wet slurry in a drying oven to form a film. A moisture content of the film is measured as the film exits the drying oven and the film is rewound on itself. The rewound film is then stored in a minimal moisture loss environment during a curing process.

Abstract: A moisture indicator in an air flow drying process where hot gas is circulated over and around a granular material having an undesirable amount of moisture includes a detector located in the path of the exhaust gas to determine exhaust flow temperature, a valve control device associated with the temperature detector to control the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the hot gas intake and an indicator connected to the valve control device. A display is associated with the indicator to display the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the gas intake which indicates the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage of hydrocarbon gas needed in the intake is inversely proportional to the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage signals the loader operator whether the granular material loaded has an acceptable amount of moisture for successful operation of the drying process.

Abstract: Moisture content of material such as thermoplastic pellets (80) in a hopper (30) is controlled by supplying dehumidified air from a dessicant bed (90) to the hopper (30) and returning air from the hopper (30) to the dessicant bed (90). A dew point sensor (10) in the return air path determines the moisture content of the material (80) in the hopper (30), and when the dew point drops to a pre-set level, a diverter (134) causes the return air flow to bypass the dessicant bed (90) and to be re-supplied to the hopper (30) without dehumidification. Two dessicant beds are provided, one of which is on-process while the dessicant in the other is regenerated.

Abstract: A method for operating a drying device which includes at least two chambers provided with bottoms for bulk material to be dried, and a means for supplying and discharging a gaseous medium to and from each chamber and wherein the bulk material is partially dried by the gaseous medium and is then transported from a first to a second chamber. The energy increase brought about by the energy supplied to the chamber by the gaseous medium, and the energy given out by the bulk material is determined for each chamber, after which the amount of moisture that has evaporated from the bulk material is determined on the basis of the energy increase and the amount of moisture expected to be present in the bulk material discharged from the device is determined on the basis of the difference between the amount of moisture present in the bulk material introduced into the device and the amount of moisture that has evaporated.

Abstract: A method for measuring moisture content along a drying line is described by the following stages: A first stage in which a predetermined (weight) quantity of product is withdrawn. A second stage in which, using a piece-counting system, the number of pieces forming the quantity of product withdrawn during the first stage is counted. A third stage in which the number of pieces of product is compared with predetermined values. The main advantage of this method its immediate response.