Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the temperature of workpieces, in particular of vehicle bodies, has a temperature-control tunnel, a traction chamber and an intermediate floor which is arranged between the temperature-control tunnel and the traction chamber and which has a connection passage. The apparatus includes a conveying device for conveying the workpieces in the temperature-control tunnel, wherein the conveying device has at least one conveying carriage with a running gear and has a workpiece carrier for holding the workpieces of which the temperature is to be controlled. The running gear is arranged in the traction chamber and is connected by a connecting device, which projects through the connection passage of the intermediate floor, to the workpiece carrier arranged in the temperature-control tunnel.

Abstract: A dryer having an improved automatic dryness detection circuit is provided. Wet clothing in the dryer bin contacts a sensor and causes a pulse to be sent to a microcontroller if the resistance of the clothes is low enough. The microcontroller disregards pulses which are shorter than a threshold time and counts pulses which are longer than a threshold time. The microcontroller issues a termination signal if the rate of pulses is lower than a threshold rate.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.

Abstract: By a method and a device for preventing corrosion on and in the region of a gas inlet nozzle during nitric acid condensation, contact of the condensing gas with the nozzle and with the surroundings of the nozzle are supposed to be minimized. This is achieved in that the gas inlet nozzle has a sleeve on the inside in the transition region to the interior of the condenser, by which sleeve a gas inlet orifice in the form of an annular gap is formed, whereby the annular space is provided with at least one feed opening for secondary air, so that an enveloping flow of secondary air is produced around the entering NO gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides grain-drying facilities which can effectively use the heat energy of a biomass combustion hot-air that has been generated in a biomass combustion furnace.

Abstract: A sheet-processing machine includes at least one dryer, air feed devices for the dryers, at least one air extraction device for heated exhaust air and a mixing device for mixing warm dryer exhaust air with the dryer feed air. An open loop or closed loop control device controls or regulates an extent to which the dryer exhaust air is mixed with the dryer feed air by using measured variables or setting values which are correlated with the moisture content of the exhaust air. A method for drying printed and/or varnished sheets is also provided.

Abstract: A method for processing a substrate using a proximity head is disclosed. The method is initiated by, providing a head with a head surface positioned proximate to a surface of the substrate. The head has a width and a length, and the head has a plurality of ports that are configured in rows along the length of the head. The plurality of rows can extend over a width of the head, and there is a first group of ports configured to dispense a first fluid. The first fluid is dispensed to the surface of the substrate forming a meniscus between the surface of the substrate and the surface of the head. The method also includes delivering gaseous carbon dioxide from a second group of ports of the head to an interface between the meniscus and the substrate. The carbon dioxide assists in promoting a reduced surface tension on the meniscus relative to surface of the substrate.

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).

Abstract: A dryer for drying moist goods is provided. The dryer reduces the amount of conditioned air used during the drying cycle by drawing drying air from the exterior of the building rather than the interior of the building thereby reducing the overall energy efficiency of the building. The dryer includes an air flow passage extending between a fresh air inlet and an exhaust air outlet. A drying chamber forms a portion of the air flow passage and is interposed between the fresh air inlet and the exhaust air outlet. A blower moves air through the air flow passage. The fresh air inlet and exhaust air outlet are separated from one another by a common wall and are positioned adjacent to one another. The fresh air inlet and exhaust air outlet are configured to attach to a combined supply and exhaust duct such that exhaust air and fresh air are passed between the dryer and the exterior of the building through the combined supply and exhaust duct.

Abstract: A heating method and apparatus for a band-shaped body transported in a constant conveying direction in a heating zone so as to heat the band-shaped body is provided. The method includes detecting whether a portion of the band-shaped body at which width and/or thickness changes is passing through the heating zone setting a first supplied heat quantity, and supplying heat with the first supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone; and setting a second supplied heat quantity, and supplying heat with the second supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone. The method also includes increasing or decreasing at least one of air flow rate or temperature of the heated air stream. The apparatus includes an air flow ratio changing unit which maintains a constant sum of introduced air stream flow rate and bypass air stream flow rate.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for supplying a gas-liquid vapor to a process tank for performing semiconductor manufacturing. In one aspect, the invention is a method of supplying a gas-liquid vapor to a process tank comprising: supplying a gas stream through at least one hydrophobic tube; exposing the outside surface of the hydrophobic tube to a liquid so that a vapor of the liquid permeates the hydrophobic tube and enters the gas stream, forming a gas-liquid vapor inside the tube; and transporting the gas-liquid vapor to the process tank. In another aspect, the invention is an apparatus for supplying a gas-liquid vapor to a process tank comprising: at least one hydrophobic tube adapted to carry a gas; and a housing forming a chamber that surrounds the tube, the chamber adapted to receive a liquid that can permeate the tube, forming a gas-liquid vapor.

Abstract: A livestock cooling system creates an environment for protecting the health and productivity of animals, particularly dairy cows. One or more cooling fans are connected to programmable oscillation means, enabling the herds man to program fan oscillation according to the location of the livestock. Water is injected under high pressure into the air stream of the fans to create a fog. The system is also programmable according to various environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, and wind velocity. The pressure and volume of the injected water are programmable and may be adjusted by the controller according to the observed environmental conditions. The disclosed system provides a cool and healthy environment for livestock, where the environment is programmed to track the animals according to the time of day, location of the animals and the location of shade.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the removal of moisture from seed cotton in a cotton gin. The moisture level and rate of seed cotton entering a seed cotton dryer stage of a cotton gin are measured, and, based on those measurements and the desired moisture level of the seed cotton, the seed cotton dryer stage of the cotton gin is controlled to remove a precise amount of moisture from the seed cotton.

Abstract: For a single chamber air drier in a compressed air system on a vehicle the volume of dry regeneration air required to regenerate a desiccant in the air drier has to be determined. This can be accomplished in that data regarding system pressure, outdoor temperature and supplied air volume are continuously provided to a compute, which in relation to these parameters controls the supply of regeneration air to the air drier.

Abstract: A method and an appliance are disclosed for the non-thermal drying of articles, in particular motor vehicle bodies, freshly painted with a water-based paint. The articles to be dried are subjected to dry air by forced convection in a drying tunnel and the moisture-laden air is dried in an air drying device by condensation to a specific target value of absolute residual moisture. So that fluctuations in the incidence of moisture can be leveled out with a low degree of inertia, with the high condensation performance remaining unchanged, only a fraction of the circulated air which is adapted in size, as required, is dried in the air drying device to a residual moisture markedly below the circulating-air target moisture, and the remaining untreated part of the circulated air is led back into the drier housing after being intermixed with the dried part-air stream.

Abstract: A drier for a lacquering line in a known manner comprises inside a drier housing a plurality of drier sections, in which heated circulating air is circulated with the aid of fans. Heating of the circulating air is effected with the aid of a heating unit, which is common to all drier sections, and a common fresh-air heat exchanger, which is disposed downstream of the heating unit and to which fresh air is supplied from the environment via a pressure regulator. The fresh air heated in said manner is directed via branch lines to the individual drier sections. The quantity of heated fresh air supplied and hence ultimately the temperature in the respective drier section is determined by control flaps in branch lines, which connect a common fresh-air distribution line to the respective sections.

Abstract: A drying device for drying bulk material has one or more storage containers for the bulk material and a heating device for heating the drying air for drying the bulk material. A drying air conduit is connected to the heating device and the storage containers and guides the drying air to the storage containers. One or more first mixing valves are arranged in the drying air conduit upstream of the storage containers, wherein the first mixing valves are used to adjust the temperature of the drying air before the drying air enters the storage containers. The heating device has also the function of regenerating the drying units provided for removing the moisture from the drying air.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying semiconductor wafers in a solvent drying chamber and a method for drying are disclosed. The apparatus is equipped with an alarm/interlocking system such that when a flow of the solvent vapor into the drying chamber is stopped, the alarm is triggered and the interlocking system is activated to stop the further loading of wafers into the drying chamber and thus preventing the outputting of undried wafers from the chamber. The apparatus is used to prevent any malfunction in the flow control valves or in any other flow control system that stops the flow of solvent vapor into the drying chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating board-like material with a gaseous treatment agent and an apparatus for implementing the method. According to the method, a gaseous treatment agent is passed through the board-like material being treated. The board-like material is introduced into at least one treatment zone, where the gaseous treatment agent is contacted with at least one side of the board-like material and is caused to pass through the thickness of the material. The properties of the gaseous treatment agent, including its temperature, moisture content and/or composition, are controlled as needed in order to achieve a desired effect on the board-like material being treated. The apparatus includes a chamber and a support for the board-like material in the chamber. When positioned in the chamber, the board-like material forms at least part of a partition separating the chamber into two regions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing particles in reactors. The apparatus includes an enclosure for processing the semiconductor wafers. The enclosure has a wafer handling chamber connected by an isolation gate valve to a processing chamber. Additionally, the apparatus includes pipes for delivering a purge gas into the wafer handling chamber. The purge gas is used to eliminates particles from the enclosure. The apparatus also includes a pilot operated back pressure regulator for regulating the delivery and removal of the purge gas from the enclosure. The apparatus actuates the isolation gate valve in a controlled rate to reduce disturbances from the purge gas entering into the enclosure. The apparatus also includes a Bernoulli wand for lifting and holding a single semiconductor wafer. A dome loaded regulator is used to control the ramp rates of the gas to the Bernoulli wand. The dome loaded regulator is actuated by a pilot gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying small lots of product, for example ear corn. The method includes simultaneously directing air flow through the product while weighing the product from time to time to derive moisture content to the product. Air temperature and flow can be adjusted to desired levels for controlling the drying process. The apparatus includes an air permeable product bin and a docking station for receiving the bin. A scale is associated with the docking station to obtain weight measurements during the drying process. An air plenum supplies controlled air flow to the docking station. The structure allows monitoring of moisture content during drying and control of air flow. The temperature can also be controlled through control of an air gate from a main hot and cold air plenum.

Abstract: A shuttle valve for a gas drying system that cleans and dries a stream of unpurified pressurized gas received from a source thereof and supplied to a pneumatic system that uses such a purified pressurized air. The valve includes a housing that connects a drying assembly to a structure that conveys the unpurified pressurized air to the drying assembly. The housing contains a choke disc provided with an orifice and a movable piston located in axial alignment with the choke disc. When the unpurified pressurized air is directed into the drying assembly for drying, the piston moves away from the choke disc to permit dry air to freely flow from the drying assembly and through the valve to the system utilizing purified pressurized air.

Abstract: A device has at least one storage container for material to be treated with at least one inlet line and at least one return line for circulating process air therethrough. At least one heating device for heating the process air is provided as well as at least one blower for circulating the process air. A control device for receiving a nominal dew point value is provided. At least one dew point measuring device is connected to the control device for measuring the actual dew point of the process air and transmitting the actual dew point value to the control device. A first mixing valve is connected either to the inlet line or to the return line. The control device controls the first mixing valve by comparing the actual dew point value to the nominal dew point value and sending a respective control signal to the first mixing valve such that the process air has a dew point corresponding to a specific nominal, residual moisture-dependent air dew point of the material to be treated.

Abstract: An integrated plant including a microalgae production plant for growing, harvesting and drying algae and a fossil fuel-motor-generator plant producing electrical energy. A fossil fuel engine produces hot exhaust gas from which sensible heat dries the algae. The drying may be direct from the exhaust gas or may be indirect with the hot exhaust gas exchanging sensible heat with a recirculating stream of inert gas. Carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas is recovered for use as a nutrient in the microalgae production plant. Electrical energy from the generator is used to drive motors and/or produce artificial illumination and/or drive pumps, motors and controls in the microalgae production plant.