Abstract: A heating apparatus for supplying heated air to a dryer for grain or other particulate materials. The apparatus features a biomass furnace with a burn chamber for combustible biomass material, a chimney having a lower end in fluid communication with the burn chamber interior, and air ducting that has a fresh air inlet, an output end connected or connectable to the dryer, and is in in fluid communication with the chimney to enable redirection of said heated exhaust air from the chimney to the dryer via the air ducting. An airflow control system is configured to both control airflow to the dryer through the air ducting, and control a temperature of said airflow by varying a ratio between the fresh ambient air and the heated exhaust air.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the content of controlled acidic pollutants in clinker kiln emissions are disclosed. The methods and apparatus include introducing bypass dust produced during production of clinker into one or more locations between the preheater exhaust and the inlet to a dust filter including into a gas conditioning tower. Total bypass dust separated from the kiln exhaust gas may be used. The bypass dust can be separated into a fine and coarse portions. Fine or total bypass dust can be mixed with water to form a bypass dust slurry that can be introduced into the gas conditioning tower. Bypass dust can be used to reduce the content of acidic pollutants such as hydrogen chloride HCl and sulfur oxides SOx from clinker kiln emissions.

Abstract: Plant and process for cement clinker production includes preheating a raw meal, a calcination step where the raw meal is brought to a temperature of about 800-850° C. to substantially decompose its mineral constituents into their oxides, and a sintering step where the load is brought to a temperature of 1300 to 1450° C. to form Ca2SiO4 (or (CaO)2.SiO2), to further decompose calcium carbonate and partially melt the load to form Ca3.SiO5 (or (CaO)3.SiO2) in a rotarykiln, followed by cooling the resulting clinker, and optionally milling it, wherein untreated oil sludge is supplied into an injection zone of the calcination zone operated at a material temperature of approx. 800-850° C., the injection zone including the bottom discharge of the lowest cyclone stages and/or of the precalciner, if appropriate, the feed-in slope of the rotary kiln and the gas phase over the mineral bed at the material inlet end of the rotary kiln.

Abstract: A rotary kiln includes a stationary burner and at least one electrode configured to apply an electric field and/or voltage to a flame supported by the stationary burner. The electric field may contain the flame and/or accelerate combustion to shift most heat transfer from the flame from radiation heat transfer to convective heat transfer.

Abstract: A flame used to heat a process material may be extended or otherwise shaped by the application of voltages using electrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus processing materials including medical waste, municipal waste, along with other wastes, and processing materials; the apparatus comprising an elongate pressure vessel of generally cylindrical configuration having an inlet end, and an end cap for the inlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus processing materials including medical waste, municipal waste, along with other wastes, and processing materials; the apparatus comprising an elongate pressure vessel of generally cylindrical configuration having an inlet end, and an end cap for the inlet.

Abstract: A rotating drum in an oven is sealed against hot gas and air transfer. An annular outer seal holder has an L shaped cross section. A first end of the holder is connected to the oven. A second end is a radial flange. A backing plate has first and second sections. The first section has an inward extending guide. The second section has an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the guide portion. Bolts hold the backing plate and the seal retainer segments assembled on the flange. A cylindrical space between the radially guide portion of the backing plate and the seal retainer segments receives radially outwardly extending holder plates of segmental inner sealing elements. Partially cylindrical plates welded to the holder plates engage a drum wear plate. Leaf springs are connected to the seal retainer segments. Inner edges pressing the cylindrical plates radially inward.

Abstract: A method of operating a mineral processing kiln includes introducing a quantity of a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) reducing agent into the kiln. The SNCR reducing agent may be a solid, liquid, or a gas. A mineral processing kiln modified for the implementation of SNCR is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for treating lime mud, in which method the lime mud is conveyed to a lime kiln, where fuel gas is used as fuel, which fuel gas is formed by a circulating fluidized bed gasifier. A calcium compound is used as bed material in the gasifier. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a calcium compound in a lime mud treatment plant, as well as to a lime mud treatment plant.

Abstract: A reactor combustion control method using a high temperature air combustion technology capable of reducing a temperature difference in a reactor without producing cracking and caulking in reaction tubes and the reactor controlled by using the method, the reactor wherein second burners (8) are disposed in a space formed between two or more reaction tubes (7) adjacent to each other so as to inject fuel in the extending direction of the reaction tubes (7).

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary kiln that can be used efficiently in drying, dry distillation and incineration of various garbage and industrial wastes. The rotary kiln comprises a cylindrical furnace body (10) disposed to incline at a small angle from the horizontal plane, a cylindrical contact heater (20) supported in the furnace body (10), a rotation drive means (30) that drives the furnace body (10) and the contact heater (20) to rotate, a waste charging port (61), a processed material discharging port (18), a combustion gas supply means (40) that supplies a combustion gas into the cylindrical contact heater (20) and a combustion gas introducing means (50) that guides the combustion gas through the contact heater (20) from a distal end to a proximate end thereof, and then guides the combustion gas through a space (S) between the contact heater (20) and the furnace body (10) from the proximate end to the distal end, thereby to charge.

Abstract: A rotary drum heater for mixing asphalt with a hot gas introduced into the drum by gas burners is disclosed. The drum has an inlet opening for material to enter the drum to be processed and an outlet opening for material to exit. The hot gas is blown into the interior of the drum and is diverted by a hot gas conduit segment that is designed to gently heat the asphalt.

Abstract: A trefoil for a rotary kiln is provided that has at least three spoke-like refractory legs. Each one of the legs extends radially outwardly from a center of the trefoil; spans approximately from the kiln shell to the center of the kiln; is pre-formed outside of the kiln for installation as a single-leg unit; and has a mating surface that preferably is uniform and even, thereby lacking interlocking features. The mating surfaces of the legs abut one another at the kiln center to provide mutual support. An alignment member, such as a pair of longitudinal angles, are welded to the kiln shell to position the legs. A corresponding method of installing the trefoil is disclosed that includes positioning and shimming the first two legs at the 4 o'clock position and 8 o'clock position, and installing the third leg at the 12 o'clock position.

Abstract: A dehydrating apparatus includes a chamber for receiving wet material to be dehydrated. A rotatably-mounted agitator is provided with the chamber. The agitator is adapted to agitate material in the chamber when the agitator rotates in a first direction and convey the material out of the chamber when the agitator rotates in the other, second direction.

Abstract: A vacuum rotary dryer capable of charging solids into a rotary drum and discharging the solids from the rotary drum without any manual operation contacting solids with the hands is provided. A rotary drum (23) is mounted thereon with a gas flow pipe (46) and a solids feed and discharge pipe (56). The solids feed and discharge pipe (56) is connected to a feed source of the solids and a pressure reducing unit (53) reduces a pressure in the rotary drum through the gas flow pipe (46), to thereby feed solids to be dried to the rotary drum (23). After drying of solids in the drum, the solids feed and discharge pipe (56) is connected to a solids suction and transport structure and the gas flow pipe (46) is rendered open to an atmospheric pressure. A swing section (56b) of the solids feed and discharge pipe (56) is pivotally moved, to thereby be intruded into solids while keeping the rotary drum (23) inclined, resulting in solids being removed through a distal end of the swing section by suction.

Abstract: A flighted, horizontally inclined rotary retort, heated externally by flame, hot gases, steam or other sources of heat. The retort shall have sufficient flight area to transport the coal through the retort in the predetermined time. The coal being processed in this retort is prevented from becoming exothermic by provision for a countercurrent flow of blanket gas, heated to a predetermined temperature below exotherm, to prevent coal surface temperatures from rising above the ignition temperature. The retort accommodates oversize pieces of raw coal by having alternating long and short flights, thus allowing greater space between long flights and allowing the larger pieces to be carried over the center pipe by the wiping action of the long flights. The retort will also be provided with an internal pipe, mounted on the center line of the shell.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for roasting legumes such as soybeans to enhance their nutritional properties. Raw legumes are introduced to a roaster having an oven section and a steeping section downstream of the oven section. The raw legumes are heated to a selected roasting temperature in the oven section as they are moved through the oven section to and through the steeping section. Throughout the passage of the legumes through the oven and steeping sections the legumes are mixed continously.

Abstract: A kiln for pyro-processing a variety of materials, such as cement, lime, lime sludge, clay, shale, magnesite, dolomite, and other minerals, includes a continuously-rotated, cylindrical, elongated shell having a feed end for receiving the material, a processing zone through which high temperature gases circulate and where the material is processed, and a discharge end where the material leaves the kiln. The shell includes an inner cylindrical surface and defines a longitudinal axis extending from the feed end to the discharge end. In addition, a portion of the inner cylindrical surface includes a lining secured contiguous to the inner cylindrical surface. The lining has an inner face in the shape of a continuous sinusoidal wave with a predetermined amplitude and wavelength.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus for feeding whole tires into a cement kiln comprising a feed opening in the shell of the kiln, a passageway including a sleeve extending within and outside the kiln, an arcuate sector valve device for closing the passageway and timed to open so as to allow the tires to fall into the kiln through the passageway. The sector valve having an outer perforated wall and an inner wall, the perforated wall allowing ambient air to circulate between the outer and inner wall to keep the outer wall cool for contact with the tires. A transfer device is provided for transferring the tires onto the feeding apparatus wherein the transfer device includes fingers while the feeding apparatus includes a fork receiving tray interdigitated with the fingers to pick up the tires as the kiln rotates.

Abstract: A heating chamber or low-temperature carbonization drum has an interior receiving bulk material or trash and has a longitudinal axis about which the heating chamber or drum is rotatable. A number of heating tubes through which a heating gas can flow in a given direction, are disposed in the interior of the heating chamber or drum, are oriented approximately parallel to one another, and have an end region as seen in the given flow direction. Turbulators are disposed inside the heating tubes in the end region.

Abstract: A rotary incinerator for disposal of industrial waste is provided. The incinerator is slopedly and rotatably disposed to a slant support and has a plurality of spirally arranged tubular conveying ribs on entire inner periphery for squeezedly transmitting the incinerating waste from the lower portion to an exit in the tapered upper end so that the waste is stirred while incinerating and the slag and ash are automatically discharged via the exit, a combustion system worked together with a ventilation system at a lower end for supplying the flame and the fresh air into the incinerator, a drive system for driving the incinerator to rotate and a control device for controlling the operation of the above recited elements. The improvement is characterized in safe and rapid incineration of the industrial waste, therefore, economical.

Abstract: A method of destructively distilling an organic material in particulate form wherein the particulates are introduced through an inlet into one end of an inner rotating kiln ganged to and coaxial with an outer rotating kiln. The inner and outer kilns define a cylindrical annular space with the inlet being positioned in registry with the axis of rotation of the ganged kilns. During operation, the temperature of the wall of the inner rotary kiln at the inlet is not less than about 500.degree. C. to heat the particulate material to a temperature in the range of from about 200.degree. C. to about 900.degree. C. in a pyrolyzing atmosphere to reduce the particulate material as it moves from the one end toward the other end.

Abstract: A transportable thermal stripping system for removing volatile organic compounds (VOC) from soil is provided. The system includes a vessel in which contaminated soil is placed into contact with a hot gas. The gas is discharged from the vessel and ambient air is introduced into the gas to ensure that the gas remains combustible. A blower circulates the gas to a cyclone separator where fine soil particles and ash are removed from the gas. Next the VOC in the gas are removed by combustion in a burner fired with a supplemental fuel. A portion of the combusted gas is exhausted to atmosphere and the remainder is recirculated to the vessel where the process is repeated.

Abstract: A dryer consists of a horizontal drum rotated about its horizontal axis, containing flighting around its periphery, and coupled with a heat source, all of which is well known in the prior art. The dryer is open at only one end and provides an inner tubular member, centrally mounted coaxially in the drum which member presents a preheating chamber. Material to be dried is first fed into the inner tubular member at one end of the drum and is moved through the tubular member by a plurality of curved flights thus preheating the material in preparation for drying. The material is moved through the preheating chamber to the opposite closed end of the drum where it is deposited into the primary drying chamber of the drum. Flighting in the drum moves the material back toward the inlet end of the drum as it continues to be heated and dried and is then passed into a hopper where it is moved by a conveyor.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydraulic binder using partially calcined raw meal entrained in the kiln off gases. The raw meal flow form the lowermost cyclone is interrupted at or near the junction of the meal chute, kiln inlet and riser duct. This flow interruption causes turbulence in the partially calcined meal facilitating dust entrainment in the gas. The splash plate can be selectively adjusted to entrain more or less raw meal. The entrained meal is drawn off from the riser duct through a kiln bypass duct, processed and hydrated to convert the calcium oxide in the meal to calcium hydroxide.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for removing volatile organic compounds from soil in order to comply with environmental regulations. The apparatus is comprised of a rotating drum in which the contaminated soil is loaded. The drum contains an auger mechanism which aerates the soil. An air heater generates hot air which is directed to the drum and circulates there-through, causing rapid volatilization of the volatile organic compounds. The volatile organic compounds are then expelled to atmosphere. The removal of volatile organic compounds is conducted in a batch fashion, loading and unloading the drum following each processing cycle. The apparatus is mobile and may be transported to any clean up site.

Abstract: In a rotary tubular kiln for carrying out gas-solids reactions, comprising an indirectly heated, rotatable reaction tube with inner baffles which is provided with charging and removing devices for solid and gas inlet and outlet lines, the improvement which comprises forming the baffles as a central tube which is sealed on both sides and runs along the total length of the kiln, and a spiral which is tightly connected to the central tube and also to the outer rotatable tube. Lifting blades are uniformly distributed along the inner periphery of the rotatable tube. The kiln is suitable for carrying out oxidation, reduction, chlorination, roasting, decomposition, catalytic, annealling and/or cooling processes, e.g. the conversion of hematite to magnetite or goethite to iron.

Abstract: In a burner gun of the type including a conduit having a gas inlet supplied with a gas and an outlet, a burner nozzle assembly includes an outlet plate secured to the outlet of the gas conduit and having a plurality of circumferentially arranged cylindrical orifices extending therethrough, the outer surface of outlet plate including a circular central portion surrounded by the orifices and operative as a bluff body, whereby positive flame retention in the range of 5 PSI to 50 PSI is obtained; a hollow cylinder having a plurality of plugs secured to an end face thereof and axially movable with respect to the orifices to vary the openings thereof so as to provide a constant velocity gas exiting through the orifices; and a piston rod connected to the cylinder and externally controlled to slideably move cylinder and thereby control movement of the orifice plugs with respect to the orifices so as to vary the openings of the latter.

Abstract: A continuous rotary retort furnace includes an outer shell having first and second ends. A retort assembly extends through openings in the first and second ends. The retort assembly is supported by support devices at both ends external of the shell. The retort assembly is formed of an axial member and a spirally-wound conduit disposed on the exterior surface of the axial member. A drive assembly is coupled to the support device adjacent the first end for rotating of the retort assembly.

Abstract: A grain roasting machine includes an elongated hollow roasting drum mounted for rotation about its fore-and-aft longitudinally-extending central axis and a burner for producing a roasting flame within the drum in a direction extending generally longitudinally of the drum from one end toward the other end of the drum. The flame is produced in the longitudinal direction but offset to one side of the central axis of the drum. Vanes disposed on the interior of the drum sidewall and extending longitudinally between the ends thereof carry grain placed in the drum along a first arcuate path which skirts the periphery of the flame and then drop the grain in a second linear path in which most of the grain falls across the drum and directly through the roasting flame before returning to the first path.

Abstract: A grain roasting machine includes an elongated hollow roasting drum mounted for rotation about its fore-and-aft longitudinally extending central axis and a burner for producing a roasting flame within the drum in a direction extending generally longitudinally of the drum from one end toward the other end of the drum. The flame is produced in the longitudinal direction but offset to one side of the central axis of the drum. Vanes disposed on the interior of the drum sidewall and extending longitudinally between the ends thereof carry grain placed in the drum along a first arcuate path which skirts the periphery of the flame and then drop the grain in a second linear path in which most of the grain falls across the drum and directly through the roasting flame before returning to the first path.

Abstract: In a cooling column the feed material to be dried or cooled is intermittently transferred from any one sieve bottom to a subjacent sieve bottom as by tilting individual sectors of the respective sieve bottoms. As a result, the feed material comes to rest on the sieve bottoms with a non-uniform bed thickness, resulting in non-uniform drying or cooling, respectively, of the feed material. A substantially uniform bed thickness of the feed material on the sieve bottoms is therefore desirable. This is achieved by the invention by providing a levelling rod mounted in support means for oscillating movement about a stationary pivot axis and extending substantially transversely of the direction of movement of the feed material.

Abstract: A roaster for grain or other particulate material. A chute is provided to feed particles adjacent the bottom of a rotating drum to reduce particle bouncing and unwanted agglomeration and to improve roasting uniformity. Vanes are provided longitudinally within the drum at an angle to lines parallel to the drum axis to improve roasting efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for drying oil well cuttings. More particularly, the present invention relates to the direct thermal treatment of oil well drill cuttings whereby the cuttings will be freed from any excess liquid and removed for storage or disposal on site or bagging.

Abstract: A perforated drum serves as a drying chamber into which moist particles are loaded. The drum is rotated about a horizontal axis to tumble the particles. Sonic energy and hot pulsating gas from a pulse jet engine are supplied to a plenum opening into the drum.The gas flows through the drum transversely to the axis and contacts the tumbling particles to dry them. A shroud encloses the drum. Moisture-laden gas exhausted from the drum is collected in the shroud and recycled to the pulse jet engine. Sonic energy escaping from the drum is reflected by the shroud back into the drum. The particles are continually exposed to pulsating hot gas and reflected sonic energy. Dried product is withdrawn from the dryer.

Abstract: A rotating kiln or cooler for use in the manufacture of cementitious materials comprises a tubular body (1) mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, a material being fed into the body at one end and removed at the other end. Air or combustion gases flow through the body (1) in the opposite direction to the material.In order to improve the heat transfer between the material and the air or gases, at least one ring (12) of lifting members (34) is provided on the interior periphery of the body (1). The members (34) lift the material and allow it to drop back to the bottom of the kiln, thus increasing the surface area of the material in contact with the air or gases.

Abstract: In the apparatus, concentric, radially spaced tubes are secured to each other and rotated about a common horizontal long axis. Selectively placed and configured lift elements repeatedly lift and drop feed material in the two tubes. Advance elements cause the feed material introduced into the feed end of the structure to advance through the inner tube where it is progressively heated, dehydrated and its hydrocarbon content is largely vaporized. The hydrocarbon vapors are removed from the opposite product end of the structure. The remaining solid material falls from the end of the inner tube into a combustion zone in the outer tube. Oxygen supplying means are provided for causing the carbon coatings on the particles in the combustion zone to burn to produce heat employed in the processing of the feed material. The solid particles in the outer tube are moved back toward the feed end by advancing elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying two materials comprising two coaxial cylinders, means for rotating the coaxial cylinders, means for introducing a first material into one end of the inner cylinder, means for heating the first material, means for moving the first material in response to the rotation of the cylinders along the interior of the inner cylinder so same is discharged from a second end thereof into an adjacent end of the outer cylinder, means for introducing a second material into the said adjacent end of the outer cylinder, and means for moving the first and second materials in response to the rotation of the cylinders along the interior of the outer cylinder in a direction contra to that of the movement of the first material in the inner cylinder so said first and second materials are discharged from the other end of the outer cylinder. The first material is dried in the inner cylinder by direct heating.