Abstract: An improved grain dryer is presented having a mixed-flow heating section having a plurality of inlet ducts connected to the plenum that facilitate air flow into the grain column from the heated and pressurized heat plenum, and a plurality of exhaust ducts connected to openings in the exterior wall that facilitate air flow out of the grain column. Outer most ducts of the inlet and exhaust ducts, which are positioned closest to end walls of the grain column, are configured to reduce bridging or grain between the outer most ducts and the end walls of the grain column.

Abstract: A device for drying grain includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a first passageway, a second passageway, a grain flow housing, a filter across the grain flow housing, a recovery column, an air supply, a recycle column, a filter cleaner in the recovery column, and a conveyor for moving the filter cleaner along the filter. The air supply pulls an air flow into the housing through the inlet port as a grain flow pours through the grain flow housing. The air flow passes through the grain flow in a first pass air flow from the passageways to dry the grain. The first pass air flow passes through the filter to remove particles, and a portion of that filtered first pass air flow is recycled back with the filter cleaner to dislodge particles clogging the filter. The other portion is vented through the outlet port.

Abstract: A method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbons such as shale oil from kerogen. Oil shale containing kerogen which has been ground into particulate form, is cascaded downwardly between a plurality of rotating trays within a heated processing chamber. As the hydrocarbons are volatized within the chamber, the volatiles are collected and condensed within a condenser or other suitable recovery apparatus.

Abstract: A method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbons such as shale oil from kerogen. Oil shale containing kerogen which has been ground into particulate form, is cascaded downwardly between a plurality of rotating trays within a heated processing chamber. As the hydrocarbons are volatized within the chamber, the volatiles are collected and condensed within a condenser or other suitable recovery apparatus.

Abstract: A combined plenum divider/hopper is provided for a grain drying tower. The divider/hopper is positioned in the drying tower proximate the heater for the drying tower and is operable to adjust the ratio of the length of the heating portion of the plenum to the length of the cooling portion of the plenum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for torrefaction of water containing cellulosic materials is performed in an inert atmosphere. The cellulosic material is cascaded through the apparatus between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within multiple processing zones. Steam being generated from heating of the cellulosic material is recycled back to the apparatus to provide an inert atmosphere. The steam may be superheated in a heat exchanger. Exhaust from the torrefaction zone of the apparatus has some moisture and other volatiles removed prior to being reheated in a burner. The heated exhaust is used in the heat exchanger to superheat the recycled steam.

Abstract: A combined plenum divider/hopper is provided for a grain drying tower. The divider/hopper is positioned in the drying tower proximate the heater for the drying tower and is operable to adjust the ratio of the length of the heating portion of the plenum to the length of the cooling portion of the plenum.

Abstract: Dryer/cooler (2) for oil bearing vegetable matter meal is provided wherein the dryer/cooler (2) has a cooling zone (22) and a drying zone (24) separated by a double bottom air plenum (28). The first surface (100) of the air plenum comprises a plurality of countersink bores (102) each receiving a slotted disc member (104) therein to provide open communication between the air plenum (26, 28) and one of the cooling or drying zones (22, 24).

Abstract: An improved vertical aeration system is provided for a grain bin having a sloped hopper bottom with a discharge opening. A pyramid frame includes legs with lower ends attachable to the hopper bottom. Concave perforated walls are attached to the legs. Braces extending between the legs provide structural support for the walls. An air duct extends upwardly and centrally into the interior of the frame, to supply air into the aeration system for flow outwardly through the perforated walls.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing fast and efficient data compression using a combination of content independent data compression and content dependent data compression. In one aspect, a method for compressing data comprises the steps of: analyzing a data block of an input data stream to identify a data type of the data block, the input data stream comprising a plurality of disparate data types; performing content dependent data compression on the data block, if the data type of the data block is identified; performing content independent data compression on the data block, if the data type of the data block is not identified.

Abstract: A dryer-cooler unit comprising a single vessel wherein drying and cooling occur. The unit comprises a rotary dryer and a stationary discharge hood. Cooling air is distributed through the discharge hood.

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 drying tunnel applicable to products of fruits and vegetables for drying, using ambient temperature dry air. The tunnel has an outer casing fitted with two independent stories which has openings at the ends of the upper floor, which crossed inside in an upward direction by a conveyor belt which is in turn crossed in a counterflow direction by a particular flow of drying air at ambient temperature. Humidity of the products is absorbed by traveling along the conveyor belt which passes through the upper flow. The upper floor is blown by fans treated by air passing through a refrigeration evaporator, condenser, and compressor located on the upper floor. Air curtains are at the tunnel openings to minimize escaping air. Air filters are included to eliminate suspended particles from the product surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying grain which includes a method and apparatus for unloading the grain from a grain dryer of a type including spaced apart first and second walls for defining a passageway or grain column for directing grain flowing downwardly by gravity between the first and second walls. A substantially horizontal shelf is disposed below the outlet port of the grain confinement walls for receiving grain thereon from the grain column. A channel is disposed below the shelf for receiving grain which is pushed off of the shelf. A discharge port is disposed in the channel. A strip of material is disposed for moving along above the shelf for metering grain from the shelf to the channel as the strip moves along the shelf. A paddle is disposed for movement in the channel for pushing grain from the channel into the discharge port. The dryer also has a central air passage from top to bottom, which lends itself to being used for three mode drying, if desired.

Abstract: A pellet conditioning device (10) for the cooling and/or drying of preformed discrete pellets (148) is provided which includes an upright pellet-receiving bin (12) with a dual grate assembly (18) therein. The assembly (18) includes a stationary first grate comprising a plurality of upright, apertured grate wall members (86), and a shiftable second grate including a plurality of elongated, obliquely oriented plates (106) located between and in spanning relationship to adjacent pairs of the wall members (86). Shifting structure (20) is provided for selective and sequential translational, rectilinear shifting movement of the lower margins (110) of the plates (106) so as to successively open and close a pellet passageway (117) adjacent each lower margin (110). A duct and fan arrangement (38) is also provided with the bin (12) so as to draw cooling air currents through the grate assembly (18) and pellets (148) therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling, drying and granulating plastic strands emerging from a nozzle in molten form includes a discharge channel washed with cooling water through which the plastic strands are conducted. A draining and drying device forms a separate unit following the lower end of the discharge channel and has a device subjecting the plastic strands to an air stream and a water collecting apparatus disposed under the plastic strands. A granulator follows the draining and drying device.

Abstract: A method of printing a material web includes the steps of applying ink to the material web, subsequently drying the material web with the use of heat and subsequently drying the material web, and, after cooling and prior to further processing, moistening the material web while simultaneously applying heat to the material web, and subsequently once again cooling the material web. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes, in a travel direction, a printing unit, a drying section following the printing unit, a cooling section following the drying section, a moistening section following the cooling section, and an after-cooling section following the moistening section.

Abstract: A mobile Sand Dryer is disclosed. This dryer is substantially made up of two portions. The first portion of the Sand Dryer is a wet sand tank. This tank is essentially divided into two distinct portions; an upper wet sand holding chamber and a lower sand drying chamber. The two chambers are divided by a grate. The upper wet sand holding chamber is supplied with a removable lid as well as a fan which may be used to create a vacuum in the chamber. The lower sand drying chamber is supplied with a propane burner and a hopper bottom. During use wet sand is placed in the upper wet sand drying chamber via the removable lid. The wet sand collects on the steel grate as it is placed into the chamber. Upon ignition of the burner and the fan the vacuum crated by the fan tends to draw the heat and moisture from the sand up and out the top of the chamber. As the sand on the grate is dried it falls through the grate before finally be moved via a vacuum tube to the second chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dryer for uniform drying of moisture laden particulate material. The dryer comprises a substantially vertical tower having a top, a bottom, side walls, a moist material inlet, a moist material distribution section below the inlet, a drying section below the distribution section and a cooling section below the drying section. The drying section contains a heated air inlet and air exhaust assemblies, wherein the air exhaust assemblies are formed from a plurality of discharge chambers extending horizontally across the tower between the side walls for flow of particulate material therebetween. Each discharge chamber contains at least one horizontally disposed exhaust tubular member having an aperture in the lower portion of the tubular member for exhausting air. Each discharge chamber also contains at least one aperture in the upper portion thereof for receiving air.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating a continuous web, such as paper or transparent film of cellulose acetate or polyethylene terephthalate, with liquid materials, such as photographic layer materials, which require chilling before they are dried, are described. Immediately before the chilling zone, the web with liquid materials thereon passes through isolation means which displaces higher dew point air travelling with the web with air having a dew point below the temperature of the atmosphere in the upstream end of the chilling zone. The displacement is achieved by directing several flows of low dew point air at the web. The flows are extensive transversely of the web and are spaced apart longitudinally of the web. Air may flow away from the web between the flows towards the web. By ensuring that the dew point of the air travelling with the web into the chilling zone is below the temperature in the upstream end of the chilling zone, condensation is avoided.

Abstract: Polyamide granules are dried and heated by feeding a suspension of granules in water into a sieve (1), where the bulk of the water is removed, and then into a tower dryer (10), where they are deposited in bed form and then freed of the remaining water while moving in plug flow under the force of gravity with a counter-current inert gas stream at from 70.degree. to 200.degree. C. The tower dryer possesses an inlet at the top (11) and outlet at the bottom (34) for the granules and also feed lines (20, 22, 31) for the inert gas. To achieve a uniform degree of drying of the granules, the inert gas is divided on entry into the tower dryer at a point between the drying zone and the heating zone into a stream which flows radially inward into the bed of granules on the one hand and a stream which flows radially inward and outward on the other. In this way the inert gas is distributed particularly uniformly and the granules are dryable in a very short drying zone down to a water content of 0.

Abstract: An apparatus is offered for controlling the discharge of granular or pelletized material from a tank, consisting of a movable grate (35) between two perforated stationary grates (27, 31), the openings (30, 34) of which are not in alignment. A plurality of scrapers (36) driven back and forth in essentially opposite directions scrapes off the material that has passed through the openings (30) of the first grate (27) and accumulated on the second grate (31) for its controlled discharge while permitting the complete emptying of the tank for easy and rapid cleaning.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are described for using air to remove moisture from particulate material such as hay (e.g., alfalfa, clover, grass, etc.), other roughage feedstuffs, straw, and even finely ground feedstuffs. The apparatus includes a housing with an air inlet in the bottom portion and an air outlet in the top portion. The particulate material is conveyed out of the housing at the bottom. A fan draws air through the housing from the bottom portion to the top in a manner such that the air passes through and around the particulate material to absorb moisture. This also cools the particulate material.

Abstract: A process for the dry sluicing of sediment from pressurized systems, such as gasification processes, in which gravitationally conveyed sediments are cooled to below their release temperature before removal. The sediments are cooled via indirect heat exchange, such as radiation cooling, to below their release point in a first zone, and are then further cooled indirectly as well as directly via cool countercurrent gas in a second zone to temperatures below 300.degree. C., the sediment route in the second zone being lengthened by deflection of at least a part of the sediment, the sediment being removed via a sluice.

Abstract: Device for cooling a granular product provided with a bunker with an intake for the material to be cooled at the top side of said bunker and a grate construction located near the bottom side of said bunker, with a fixed grate and a movable grate, movable to and fro in action, whereby the movable grate has been arranged under the fixed grate, while under the movable grate a third grate has been provided, which during operation is displaceable and adjustable in several positions.

Abstract: In the desolventizing of solvent-containing residues which are obtained in the extraction from vegetable, oil and fat-bearing raw materials with organic solvents and from which the so-called miscella containing oil and/or fat has been separated, the desolventization proper by direct action of a desolventizing agent, particularly steam, is relieved by interposing before the desolventization proper a pre-desolventization with indirect heat transfer, particularly indirect steam heating, and thereby the energy input of the entire system is reduced considerably.Moreover, the drying and cooling of the now solvent-free residue, which follows the desolventizing, can take place in a single, combined stage, whereby further relief of the volume of apparatus as well as the energy input is achieved.

Abstract: The grain dryer of the present invention includes a housing having two spaced apart vertical partitions therein which divide the housing into a central compartment, a front compartment and a rear compartment. Air intake openings are provided in the two vertical partitions so as to provide communication from the central compartment to the two front and rear compartments through the two partitions. The front and rear walls of the housing are also provided with exhaust openings which permit air to exit from the front and rear compartments outwardly through the front and rear walls respectively. A first group of ventilator members are located within the front and rear compartments and are connected to the inlet openings within the partitions for guiding air into the front and rear compartments from the central compartments.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a modular drier.Each module comprises two fans each supplying a common diffusion chamber (14) disposed between two columns of a group of columns (12, 13). Said chambers (14) adjoin a perforated wall of said columns comprising vertical deflectors, with the opposite wall of these columns, likewise perforated, communicating with a common chamber (15) for exhausting the air used for drying.The invention relates to a modular drier for drying grains, in which gravity draws the grain down in parallel sheets within vertical columns crossed horizontally by the drying air.

Abstract: In a continuous flow vertical grain dryer, heated air is supplied into a closed top plenum through means of a stack opening upwardly therein, and fresh air is supplied to the stack from as nearly as practicable fines-free ambient atmosphere by receiving the fresh air from a relatively fines-free ambient atmosphere zone, e.g., above the discharge from the vertical pervious wall of the dryer of spent grain-drying air. Efficient heat transfer and preheating of the fresh air by association of a fresh air duct with the stack is provided for.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the slow cooling of grain in which warm grain is introduced into the upper end of a silo and cooling air is introduced at the lower end and is evacuated at an intermediate point between the upper and lower ends of the silo. The warm grain descends through the silo in a non-ventilated space above the intermediate point where the internal moisture is removed, then into a ventilated space where it is cooled by the cooling air and finally to the lower end of the silo from which the cooled grain is extracted.

Abstract: A vertical cylinder for drying and heating granules which includes an inlet at the top of the cylinder, a conically tapered outlet at the bottom of the cylinder, a rotatable screening ring beneath the inlet, a chute beneath the screening ring and a scraper above the ring inlets for gases in the downward extending section of the cylinder, a shell and tube heat exchanger located coaxially in the bottom quarter of the cylinder, a horizontally movable grid as flow control device below the heat exchange and a discharge zone below the grid.

Abstract: An arrangement for dry cooling of coke has a prechamber for a coke to be cooled with a prechamber wall, a cooler with a cooler wall, a plurality of connecting members connecting these walls with each other, so that a cooling gaseous medium can pass between the connecting members, and a plurality of throttling elements arranged between the connecting members and actuated from outside of the walls.

Abstract: A cross flow grain drying and conditioning apparatus having an improved grain column configuration wherein the thickness is narrower at the top and bottom thereof than at an intermediate portion thereof for optimumly confining the grain to be dried. A single blower operates to force heated drying air through a first zone of the column of grain and to pull cooling air through a second zone or alternatively to push heated air through both the first and second zones by opening or closing a plenum divider which can be closed to define the zones or opened to combine the zones.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for generating heated air, for example, for use in connection with a dryer for particulate material, comprising a base portion having a combustion chamber and a burner for providing a flow of combustion gas. A plurality of open tubes having the first ends communicating with the combustion chamber are provided for receiving the flow of combustion gas. The second ends of the tube extend beyond the base portion. A tubular structure is connected to the base portion surrounding the second ends of the tubes. The tubular structure has partition means for dividing it into a heat exchange chamber adjacent the base portion and surrounding the tubes and a manifold chamber remote from the base portion. The partition cooperates with the tubes to direct the flow of combustion gas into the manifold chamber.

Abstract: A gravity-flow grain dryer for particulate material comprises first and second generally vertical drying columns spaced apart to provide a plenum chamber therebetween, the drying columns each having opposed spaced perforate walls. First and second inputs are provided for introducing particulate material into top portions of the first and second drying columns, respectively. First and second discharge mechanisms are also provided for removing particulate material from bottom portions of the first and second drying columns, respectively. Conveyor means are provided for receiving the particulate material discharged from the first drying column and for conveying the particulate material to the second input. A flow of drying air is directed to the plenum chamber, whereby the drying air passes into the first and second drying columns to dry the particulate material, the drying air being subsequently discharged from the drying column.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying particulate material wherein the particulate material is passed through an enclosed chamber. A heated fluid is introduced into a portion of the enclosed chamber to heat and absorb the moisture from the particulate material. A cooling fluid is introduced into a portion of the enclosed chamber to cool and absorb moisture from the heated particulate material. The particulate material is recirculated through the enclosed chamber until the desired degree of drying is achieved.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for treating granular product within a cylindrical chamber as the product, by the force of gravity, falls through a plurality of regions maintained at varying temperature and pressure. Structure formed by at least a pair of collectors is connected tangentially to a housing surrounding the regions to withdraw gas from and reintroduce gas to the cylindrical chamber. Particularly gas is withdrawn from a lower region, treated by heating and dilution with flue gases prior to reintroduction. Movement of gas is provided by a ventilator which serves to draw fresh air into the cylindrical chamber from the vicinity of the lower region. The flow of gas, the temperature of the gas, and the pressure within the regions result in granular product first moving counter to the flow of gas, then with the flow of gas, and then counter to the flow of gas. The granular product is heated, maintained at a heated temperature, and cooled within these flows.

Abstract: Structure is provided defining a flow path for granular materials to be dried and laterally through which drying air may be passed. The flow path includes inlet and outlet end portions and supply means is provided for supplying granular material to the inlet end portion and discharge means is provided for discharging granular material from the outlet end portion. Air passage structure is provided including means for passing heated drying air laterally through the inlet end portion of the flow path and cooled drying air laterally through the outlet end portion of the flow path. The air passage structure includes a substantially closed loop circuit and pump structure for pumping air through the circuit.

Abstract: There is a disclosed a process and apparatus wherein a solvent-enriched material is introduced into a desolventizer-toaster tower to form a desolventized material which is introduced into a dryer and heated in the absence of air to form a dried material and a vapor steam including solvent which is compressed and passed to the desolventizer-toaster tower to provide all or a portion of the sparger steam requirements therefor.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for recovering heat from a finely to coarsely divided hot material, such as carbide crushed on solidification, which contains particles and lumps of varying sizes. The hot material is separated by a classifier into a portion of lumps and a portion of particles, and the lump portion is cooled in a cooling bunker with a stream of cooling gas while the particulate portion is cooled in another cooling unit with a stream of cooling gas. The hot cooling gas resulting from the cooling is fed to a heat exchanger in which the gas is subjected to heat exchange with a working fluid for a turbine coupled to a power generator or the like. The heat exchanger is connected to the cooling bunker and unit by a closed circulating channel.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characterized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. A multiplicity of grain turning apparatus of full and partial width of the grain column is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two or more separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.

Abstract: A grain drying apparatus includes an upright bin having a perforated drying floor supported substantially above a perforated cooling floor. An opening through the drying floor communicates with a hopper having a gate mechanism adapted to confine grain within the hopper when closed and adapted to permit grain to fall from the hopper into the cooling chamber when opened. A grain discharge conveyor has one end in communication with the hopper and the other end extended outwardly through the bin sidewall. A support truss for the drying floor includes upper and lower ring members supported in vertically spaced-apart and aligned relation, a plurality of purlins radiating outwardly from the upper ring member for connection to the bin sidewall at circumferentially spaced positions and a plurality of tension braces radiating outwardly from the lower ring member for connection to the purlins adjacent the bin sidewall.

Abstract: Cereal grain dryer comprising an elongated vertical casing defining an open ended enclosure. A combustion chamber provides hot combustion gases divided into two streams: one flowing into a coil lining an upper section of the casing and the other flowing through a radiator which heats up air before the latter moves horizontally across the enclosure by passing through two orifices of the casing. The casing is likewise horizontally traversed by a cold air stream passing through two further casing orifices, below the hot air stream. The cereal grains fall vertically through the enclosure and are moved by gravity. They are dried with a good thermal efficiency without coming in contact with the combustion gases.

Abstract: A grain drying and conditioning apparatus having a housing with an outer pervious skin with impervious end walls, air inlet, grain inlet, grain outlet and air exhaust duct structures connected thereto has air pervious walls which are spaced within the structure for confining a column of grain to be dried. A blower and heater mechanism is also connected to the housing for causing heated air to be forced through a first zone of the column of grain in one direction to heat and extract moisture therefrom and simultaneously causing air for cooling the grain to be pulled through a second zone of the grain column in an opposite direction, or, by simple adjustments, to be pushed in the same direction as the flow of the heated air.

Abstract: A recycle control is provided for grain dryers of the type which have a drying column area with heating and cooling zones and a recirculating air blower. During a recirculating mode of the grain dryer, the recirculating blower draws in a mixture of cooling air and heating air from the cooling and heating zones respectively and forces the mixture after additional heating back into the heating zone. The recycle control includes an inlet duct and adjustable louver arrangement which during partial recirculating mode selctively flows outside air into the mixture of cooling air and heating air at an intake portion of the recirculating blower to regulate the extent of dryer recirculation, and control grain drying. During a non-recirculating mode the recirculating blower draws in only outside air.

Abstract: An inlet duct is provided for recirculating grain dryers of the type which have a drying column area, and a recirculating blower mounted in a room portion of the dryer, with an open side of the room communicating with the drying column area. The inlet duct is connected with an intake portion of the recirculating blower, and has an open end thereof disposed adjacent to the open side of the room, whereby during a full recirculating condition of the grain dryer, air is drawn into the recirculating blower substantially wholly from the drying column area. The inlet duct has an aerodynamically streamlined interior shape with walls which taper inwardly toward the blower intake portion for efficiently guiding the flow of air from the drying column area directly into the recirculating blower intake.

Abstract: A grain dryer having upright grain passages defined by perforate walls confining grain columns therein, the grain passages having offset portions and common inlets and outlets and vertically spaced plenum chambers, and a duct with a fan and burner drawing air from the lower plenum and applying the air in the upper plenum, a pair of upright imperforate plates lying along the exterior of the grain passages and directing a portion of the air emerging from the upper plenum to be recycled by again passing inwardly through the column and into the lower plenum.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting a packed bed of particulate material with a treating gas includes a downwardly converging bin, hot gas distributors and a cooling gas distributor. The method whereby the apparatus is used as a reactor dryer to treat particulate sponge iron is also disclosed.

Abstract: A concurrent-countercurrent flow type grain dryer is described having an improved wet grain-drying air contacting arrangement. The dryer is in the form of a tower, with the grain passing from top to bottom by gravity flow. The tower has a wet grain bin at the top with intermediate drying zones and metering grain outlets at the bottom for controlling the rate of movement of grain through the tower. The drying zone is divided into several sections including at least two concurrent flow hot air drying zones with a steeping zone between each pair of concurrent flow hot air drying zones, followed by a countercurrent flow cooling zone. The use of two or more concurrent flow drying zones with intermediate steeping zones have been found to remarkably improve both the rate of flow of grain through the dryer and the moisture removal efficiency. Still greater efficiencies have been achieved by recycling the outlet drying air from one drying zone to the inlet drying air of a subsequent drying zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing effervescent tablets consisting in the steps of careful humidifying of the acid+base mixture, pre-drying and final drying and granulating.It has been found that these operations can be performed in a single apparatus, either integrally in fluid bed, or with vacuum-drying.