Abstract: A recycling apparatus of used bituminous conglomerate and an airtight support device for rotating cylinders are described.

Abstract: A grid plate for the transporting and cooling of very hot materials leaving a furnace is provided. The plate includes cavities of rectangular shape, the largest dimension being perpendicular to the direction of advance of the materials. The cross section of these cavities being triangular with a fin-shaped bottom terminating in a turned-up end of reverse slope, the slope (?) of the cavities being between 10° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 30°, to the horizontal and the reverse slope (?) of the turned-up end making an angle equal to or up to 6° less than the angle of the slope of the cavities. The flow of material under gravity through the air injection slits is interrupted. Any contact of the material with the framework and with the mechanism of the equipment is avoided.

Abstract: In a process for melting metal chips, the process being of the type that uses a charge system for delivering the metal chips to a melt furnace, and of the type that uses a pre-treatment system for drying the metal chips, the improvement comprising the step of capturing an exhaust stream from the charge system, where the exhaust stream includes hydrocarbons, and combusting the hydrocarbons to produce heat that is utilized in drying the chips.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and a system of producing nanoparticles and nanoparticle matrices of thermolabile, biocompatible matrix materials, like lipids and biopolymers with controlled properties. A prototype pulse-heat aerosol system is described for single-step production of free, thermolabile nanoparticles with sufficient control over size, morphology and crystallinity with controlled-release properties, for possible therapeutic, cosmetic or diagnostic use. Nanoparticles of the range 50 to 500 nm are obtained and are found suitable for controlled drugs delivery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing cement clinker, which has a furnace system and has essentially the following process steps:—raw material is preheated in a preheater by means of hot offgases from the furnace system,—dust is removed from the hot offgas downstream of the preheater in a preliminary dust removal apparatus to a residual dust concentration of max. 20 g/standard m3,—the offgas which has been subjected to preliminary dust removal is purified in a selective catalytic flue gas purification plant (selective catalytic reduction, SCR),—at least part of the offgas purified in the flue gas purification plant is conveyed in a bypass around a raw material milling plant to a cooling device and cooled there to temperatures of max. 140° C.,—before the residual dust in the offgas is precipitated in a process filter and—at least part of the residual dust precipitated in the process filter is discharged for removal of mercury.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reheater for containing a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive a first portion of the heated inorganic particles. The inorganic particle cooler is configured to receive a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the first portion of the heated inorganic particles to form first partially-cooled heated inorganic particles that are fluidly communicated to the reheater and combined with a second portion of the heated inorganic particles to form second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles. A reactor is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive the second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.

Abstract: In the method according to the invention for producing cement clinker, raw cement meal is preheated in a preheater, the preheated raw cement meal is precalcined in a calciner and the precalcined raw cement meal is burnt in a kiln, fuel and combustion air having an oxygen content of at least 75 mol % being used in the calciner, and the raw cement meal being precalcined in a fluidised bed in the calciner. The exhaust gases occurring in the kiln are delivered to the preheater, bypassing the calciner, and the exhaust gases of the calciner are delivered to a CO2 preparation device.

Abstract: A system and method for the calcination of minerals.

Abstract: A low impact belt dryer is presented for drying pellets while minimizing high-energy pellet collisions that may create pellet dust or cause pellets to fracture. The dryer includes a vacuum chamber having multiple air knife assemblies that direct high velocity drying fluid towards the pellets and though a liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt to a vacuum port. The low impact dryer may also include a centrifugal dryer for dewatering the pellets before they pass though the vacuum chamber. The conveyor belt of the dryer may transport the pellets through multiple desiccation chambers where low velocity air is directed upwards though the belt to both dry and levitate the pellets above the belt. The dryer may also include a cleaning chamber for removing debris from the liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for the production of clinker from raw meal, comprising: a rotary kiln (8), optionally a precalciner; a multi-stage cyclone preheater (9) connected downstream of said rotary kiln (8) with respect to the direction of flow of the fumes (11) of a combustion taking place in said kiln (8); an electrofilter (10) connected downstream of said preheater (9) with respect to said direction of flow of the combustion fumes (11); characterized in that it comprises a first inlet (17) for feeding raw meal to said combustion fumes (11), said inlet (17) being arranged downstream of said preheater (9) and upstream of said electrofilter (10) with respect to said direction of flow of the combustion fumes (11), and in that it comprises a second inlet (18) for feeding partially preheated raw meal (14) from said electrofilter (10) to said preheater (9). The present invention also concerns an improved process for the production of clinker from raw meal.

Abstract: In the method according to the invention for operating a cement plant, the raw meal is preheated in a preheating zone, the preheated material is precalcined in a calcining zone and the precalcined material is finally sintered in a sintering zone. The cement plant is operated in such a manner that the precalcined material which is supplied to the sintering zone has an SO3 concentration of at least 5.5% by mass and a CaSO4 proportion of at least 75%, preferably 90%, of the total salt content.

Abstract: A device for recovering heat of molten slag, having a simple structure and high heat recovery efficiency. The device includes: a fluidized bed (3) formed of a fluidized bed material (32) composed of a crushed solidified slag; a slag pool (4) for feeding a molten slag to the fluidized bed; heat transfer tubes (7) for recovering heat from the fluidized bed; and a solidified slag withdrawing device (21) for recovering a solidified slag (34), such solidified slag (34) being formed in the fluidized bed as the molten slag is solidified therein. Molten slag droplets (31) are dripped into the fluidized bed (3) from the slag pool (4) and solidified in the corresponding fluidized bed. The heat released at that time is transferred to the heat transfer tubes (7) through the bed material (32).

Abstract: Systems for heat treating materials are presented. The systems typically involve a fluidized bed that contains granulated heat treating material. In some embodiments a fluid, such as an inert gas, is flowed through the granulated heat treating medium, which homogenizes the temperature of the heat treating medium. In some embodiments the fluid may be heated in a heating vessel and flowed into the process chamber where the fluid is then flowed through the granulated heat treating medium. In some embodiments the heat treating material may be liquid or granulated heat treating material and the heat treating material may be circulated through a heating vessel into a process chamber where the heat treating material contacts the material to be heat treated. Microwave energy may be used to provide the source of heat for heat treating systems.

Abstract: Dried distiller's solubles is described. Methods for drying condensed distiller's solubles into dried distiller's solubles are presented. The methods may include introducing the condensed distiller's solubles into a drying gas stream and recovering dried distiller's solubles from the drying gas stream.

Abstract: A device for roasting spent activated carbon, waste sludges, or other organic wastes, includes a downdraft bed furnace, a first adsorber fluidly coupled to the furnace including a closed tank of adsorber process solution, a venturi scrubber and a cyclone separator coupled to the tank such that gases are sucked through the venturi and the cyclone separator, liquid effluents from the scrubber and separator falling by gravity into the tank, a second adsorber fluidly coupled to the first adsorber including a closed tank of adsorber liquid, a venturi scrubber and a cyclone separator coupled to the tank such that gases are sucked through the venturi and the cyclone separator, liquid effluents from the scrubber and separator falling by gravity into the tank, the second adsorber configured to remove impurities not removed in the first adsorber; and an exhaust blower fluidly coupled to the second adsorber unit and configured to pull air into the furnace and through the first and second adsorbers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cement clinker includes a rotary furnace, a cyclone preheater receiving the fumes from said rotary furnace, an air blowing clinker cooler, and at least one heat exchanger, referred to as a first heat exchanger. The raw materials are preheated and decarbonated in said cyclone preheater. The clinker is cooled in said clinker cooler. A first portion of the hot air generated by said clinker cooler, or so-called secondary air, is directed to the rotary furnace to be used as combustion air. A second portion of the hot air generated, or so-called tertiary air, is directed and carried separately from the first portion to a place in the facility where fuel is burned. A third portion of hot air generated in said clinker cooler, or so-called excess air, is carried into at least said first heat exchanger for the purpose of recovering power to produce electricity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing cement clinker in a plant having a cyclone preheater, a precalcination reactor, a rotary furnace and a clinker cooler. In the process, the flue gases from the furnace are conducted to the precalcination reactor, or even to the cyclone preheater. According to the invention, the precalcination reactor is fed with an oxygen-rich gas, the nitrogen content of which is less than 30%, constituting the sole oxygen source for said reactor, and a portion leaving the cyclone preheater is recycled into the plant so as to obtain a suitable flux necessary for suspending matter in said preheater, while the other portion, rich in carbon dioxide, is adapted for the purpose of a treatment for limiting the amount of carbon dioxide discharged into the atmosphere, such as particularly sequestration.

Abstract: In a method for the preheating of cement raw meal for the production of cement-clinker, in which the cement raw meal is conveyed towards the feed side of a cement clinker kiln (1) in at least one heat exchanger-line in counter flow to hot gases, the hot gases are drawn off via at least a first heat exchanger (2) connected with the feed end of the cement clinker kiln (1) and via heat exchanger-lines (3,4) following this first heat exchanger (2) and being parallel to each other. The device for carrying out said method is characterized in that heat exchanger-lines (3,4) arranged in parallel to each other are connected to at least a first heat exchanger (2) joined to the feed end of the cement clinker kiln.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for calcining active lime, including a precalcining furnace for receiving limestone materials to be calcined and precalcining the limestone materials, and a rotary kiln for receiving the materials containing precalcined product from the precalcining furnace, outputting the formed active lime, and at the same time supplying a first flue gas to the precalcining furnace. The calcining system further includes a precalcining furnace combustion device, which generates a second flue gas and supplies it to the precalcining furnace, such that the limestone materials are precalcined in the precalcining furnace under the action of the first flue gas and the second flue gas. In this way, the precalcining rate of the limestone materials in the precalcining furnace is significantly improved.

Abstract: A fluidized bed is described and which includes a multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds positioned in spaced relation one relative to the others; an enclosure positioned in gravity receiving relation relative to the multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds and which has an intake and a discharge end, and wherein particulate matter received in the fluidized bed moves under the influence of gravity from the intake end to the discharge end, and a moveable gate is mounted on the second discharge end of the enclosure and which is operable to selectively occlude a discharge aperture and which further facilitates the selective removal of particulate matter and waste material entrained with same, and which moves under the influence of gravity to the discharge end thereof.

Abstract: A fluidized bed gasification furnace has a fluidized bed formed and a freeboard section F above a bed material so as to produce a produced gas by a reaction of raw material with a gasifying agent and take out the produced gas through the freeboard section. Upon shutdown of the furnace, inert gas is fed from below to the furnace for purging of gas in the fluidized bed with inert gas while steam is supplied to a freeboard section above the fluidized bed to purge a gas in the freeboard section with steam.

Abstract: A component is treated in a fluidised bed by insertion of only a treatment part of the component into the treatment chamber of a fluidised bed apparatus. The non-treatment part of the component is located substantially outside the treatment chamber and out of contact with the fluidised bed. The boundary between the treatment part and the non-treatment part of the component is defined by a boundary containment surface at a fixed location with respect to the component. The boundary containment surface may be a seal which seals between the component to be treated and an aperture in a side wall of the treatment chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for the treatment of a component using a fluidised bed of powder. The apparatus includes a treatment chamber for receiving at least a treatment part of the component and a powder reservoir. The powder reservoir has heating or cooling means for controlling the temperature of the powder. A flexible powder conveyor (e.g. educator) links the treatment chamber and the powder reservoir, continuously conveying powder from the reservoir to the treatment chamber for use in the fluidised bed. The powder reservoir and the treatment chamber are independently positionable, so that the position of the treatment chamber is variable with respect to the powder reservoir during operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of a component using a fluidised bed of powder fluidised by a gas flow has a treatment chamber for receiving at least a treatment part of the component and for containing the fluidised bed. A fluidising gas inlet provides fluidising gas to the treatment chamber and a fluidising gas outlet removes used fluidising gas from the treatment chamber. A powder screen is located between the treatment chamber and the fluidising gas outlet, the powder screen operable substantially to prevent loss of powder from the fluidising bed entrained in the fluidising gas removed from the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber can be small and moveable, and then applied to a part of a component to be treated. Heating of the fluidised bed may be provided by heating of the fluidising gas in a fluidising gas reservoir remote from the treatment chamber.

Abstract: A cement product is disclosed. The cement product includes clinker defined by a feedstock material and a ladle metallurgical facility slag material derived from a ladle metallurgical facility steel production system. A system and method for manufacturing clinker is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method for utilizing alternative fuels in the production of clinker or cement the alternative fuels are employed in reactors (4) for the preheating and/or precalcining of raw meal in a combustion device (17) separate from the burners (12) of the respective reactor (4) and are at least partially burnt whereupon an, if necessary, complete combustion is carried out inside the reactors (4) with the combustion oxygen fed to the burner (12) of the reactor (4) in excess of stoichiometry. The device for utilizing alternative fuels in the production of clinker or cement having a clinker kiln (1) and a reactor (4) with burners (12) for preheating and calcining of raw meal and having at least one duct (18) for combustion air or -oxygen respectively is characterized in that a separate combustion device (17) having a conveyor for alternative fuels such as, for instance, a pusher or a screw conveyor (16) is provided and opens inside the respective reactor (4).

Abstract: An indurating furnace has a heating station and an air passage leading to the heating station. A draft of preheated recirculation air is driven through the passage toward the heating station, and is mixed with fuel gas to form a combustible mixture of preheated recirculation air and fuel gas that ignites in the passage. This is accomplished by injecting the fuel gas into the passage in a stream that does not form a combustible mixture with the preheated recirculation air before entering the passage.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the field of pest elimination including all life stages of bed bugs. The present disclosure includes articles, systems, and methods of heat treatment to target and kill pests.

Abstract: A gypsum dryer/calciner includes a calcining space; a first pipe having an inlet connected to a source of hot gases and an outlet emerging in the calcining space; a second pipe having an inlet connected to a source of gypsum and an outlet emerging in the calcining space, the second pipe being concentric with the first pipe; and a force-feeding screw positioned at least partially in the second pipe, the screw carrying the gypsum along in the calcining space.

Abstract: A unique nozzle [20] for a fluidized bed reactor is described that may be replaced efficiently. This employs a collar [30, 130, 230] attached to a vertical section [15] of a feed pipe [11] that provides fluidizing gases. The vertical section [15] has a plurality of nozzle openings [17] at its upper end. A nozzle cap [19] fits over the upper end of the vertical section [15] and the nozzle openings [17]. The collar [30, 130, 230] extends radially outward from the vertical section [15] at a location just below the nozzle cap [19] supporting it in its operational position. During replacement of the vertical section [15] and the nozzle cap [19], the collar acts as a guide to direct cutting equipment to the proper location and facilitate proper cuts. The collar [30, 130, 230] also acts as a support to hold the vertical section [15] and the nozzle cap [19] in proper position to facilitate welding.

Abstract: In a method of making a component for a motor vehicle, a metal part in the form of a plate, semifinished product, or a formed part, is heated in a fluidized bed of a fluidized bed furnace. The fluidized bed is being fluidized by a fluid, e.g. gas. Subsequently; the metal part is subjected to a forming, hardening or aging process.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a mixing calciner that can separate and recover CO2 gas in a high concentration, which is generated when a to-be-calcined cement material is mixed with a superheated calcined portion and calcined, by employing a fluidized-bed type or a spouted-bed type. The invention provides a mixing calciner (12) which mixes the calcined cement material with the superheated calcined portion to cause a calcination reaction, wherein the mixing calciner is the fluidized-bed type or the spouted-bed type, and is provided with a plurality of feed lines (25) for feeding the to-be-calcined cement material. In addition, this invention provides a mixing calciner which easily fluidizes or spouts a cement material even when a heat medium has a particle diameter larger than that of the cement material, and can separate and recover CO2 gas generated in a cement-manufacturing facility in a high concentration.

Abstract: The boiler of the invention has a circulating fluidized bed, uses solid fuels and the oxygen obtained by high temperature oxygen production membranes, and is characterized in that the membranes are placed in the bed. These membranes are, for example, of the OTM (Oxygen Transport Membranes) type. Since the membranes operate at over 700° C., their positioning in the outer bed is ideally selected because the temperature of the solids circulating in the outer bed is between 750 and 900° C. This is particularly remarkable because the operating temperature windows of the circulating fluidized bed coincide with the optimal temperature window of use of the membranes.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for a low bed pressure drop circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler associated with fast bed CFB combustion are disclosed. The CFB boiler may be operated according to the following set of conditions. In an upper area of a combustor of the boiler, a flow pattern of the two-phase gas-solid flow may be placed in a fast bed fluidization state. The combustor temperature may be within a range of 850° C.-930° C. The fluidizing air velocity may be within 4 m/s and 6.2 m/s. An average size of a bed material in the combustor may be smaller than 300 ?m. The gas-solid flow above of the secondary air inlet in the combustor may be kept in the fast bed fluidization state while maintaining a solid concentration of between 1 kg/m3 to 5 kg/m3. An inventory of bed material per unit area and/or the pressure drop in the combustor may be less than 8 kPa.

Abstract: A cement clinker production line with a calcining stage connected upstream of the rotary tubular kiln including an integrated calcining combustion chamber, with a CO-containing reduction zone whose size and reduction potential can be adapted to different NOx contents contained in the kiln exhaust gas and/or different types of secondary fuels used in the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber has an upper, raw-meal-free reducing zone with a feed for secondary fuels, and first tertiary partial airstream with sub-stoichiometric fuel combustion for gasifying the secondary fuels. The combustion chamber has a lower zone. The inflow for at least one raw meal partial stream and one second tertiary partial airstream are arranged in the junction region of the upper zone and the lower zone. The height (H) of the upper zone in relation to the height (h) of the lower zone has a ratio of approximately 5:1 to approximately 1:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining bed velocity and solids circulation rate in a standpipe experiencing a moving packed bed flow, such as the in the standpipe section of a circulating bed fluidized reactor The method utilizes in-situ measurement of differential pressure over known axial lengths of the standpipe in conjunction with in-situ gas velocity measurement for a novel application of Ergun equations allowing determination of standpipe void fraction and moving packed bed velocity. The method takes advantage of the moving packed bed property of constant void fraction in order to integrate measured parameters into simultaneous solution of Ergun-based equations and conservation of mass equations across multiple sections of the standpipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for producing clinker from raw cement material. The raw cement material is preheated in a preheater, is precalcined in a calcining apparatus, is completely burned in a sintering furnace, and is finally cooled in a cooler. Tertiary air of the cooler is fed to the calcining apparatus while eliminated dust is thermally treated in a dust burning reactor with the aid of combustion air and fuel. At least some of the tertiary air is fed to the dust burning reactor as combustion air while the dust that is to be treated and the combustion air penetrate the dust burning reactor in the same direction of flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel type of active mass and to the use thereof in chemical loopping combustion processes. Said active mass contains a spinel which corresponds to the formula AxA?x?ByB?y?O4. The active masses according to the invention have a high oxygen transfer capacity and oxidation and reduction rates which allow their advantageous use in the looping combustion process.

Abstract: The amount of atoms diffused into a substrate may be made uniform or the thickness of a thin film may be made uniform in a low species utilization process by stopping the flow of gas into a reaction chamber during the low species utilization process. Stopping the flow of gas into a reaction chamber may entail closing the gate valve (the valve to the vacuum pump), stabilizing the pressure within the reaction chamber, and maintaining the stabilized pressure while stopping the gas flowing into the chamber. Low species utilization processes include the diffusion of nitrogen into silicon dioxide gate dielectric layers by decoupled plasma nitridation (DPN), the deposition of a silicon dioxide film by rapid thermal processing (RTP) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and the deposition of silicon epitaxial layers by CVD.

Abstract: Dried distiller's solubles is described. Methods for drying condensed distiller's solubles into dried distiller's solubles are presented. The methods may include introducing the condensed distiller's solubles into a drying gas stream and recovering dried distiller's solubles from the drying gas stream.

Abstract: A system (100) for calcining natural gypsum, synthetic gypsum (112) or a combination thereof, the system including: a mill (114) for grinding and drying natural gypsum, synthetic gypsum (112) or a combination thereof, to produce dried gypsum (116); a flash calciner (118) for calcining the dried gypsum to produce an exhaust gas (130) and calcined gypsum (128); and a mechanism (134) for transporting at least a portion of the exhaust gas (130) produced by the flash calciner (118) to an air heater (126) that supplies hot gas (126a) to the flash calciner (118).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the conveyance of fine-grained solids in a fluidized bed reactor and also to a corresponding plant. It is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a central tube (3) into a mixing chamber (7) of the reactor (1), the central tube (3) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (10) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas. The gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture as well as of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (10) are adjusted such that the particle Froude numbers in the central tube (3) are between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidizied bed (10) between 0.02 and 2 in the mixing chamber (7) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing air pollutants associated with dry process, precalciner cement manufacturing is shown. Raw feed meal used in cement production is heated in a special heating chamber to drive off volatile compounds, such as organic materials and salts of ammonia. Preferably, the feed meal is heated to a temperature of at least 350° F. The gases that are driven off flow to the precalciner where they are combusted and rendered harmless. Heat is provided by diverting at least a portion of the exhaust gases from the cement pyroprocessing kiln to the special heater. The raw feed meal is indirectly heated using a heat exchange wall between the feed meal and the kiln exhaust gas flow. In addition, a base-containing material such as lime or precalcined feed meal, may be added to the raw feed before treatment meal to promote the breakdown of inorganic ammonium compounds, thereby releasing gaseous ammonia which is also destroyed upon subsequent combustion.

Abstract: Systems for heat treating materials are presented. The systems typically involve a fluidized bed that contains granulated heat treating material. In some embodiments a fluid, such as an inert gas, is flowed through the granulated heat treating medium, which homogenizes the temperature of the heat treating medium. In some embodiments the fluid may be heated in a heating vessel and flowed into the process chamber where the fluid is then flowed through the granulated heat treating medium. In some embodiments the heat treating material may be liquid or granulated heat treating material and the heat treating material may be circulated through a heating vessel into a process chamber where the heat treating material contacts the material to be heat treated. Microwave energy may be used to provide the source of heat for heat treating systems.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus for batch-by-batch or continuous process control is provided that allows the processes in the fluidization region to be influenced as desired, especially in terms of material movement and dwell time. The fluidized bed apparatus is formed from at least two processing regions and the processing regions are connected to each other by overflow channels. The first processing region is provided with a solids inlet and the last processing region is provided with a solids outlet. For influencing the dwell time, the material to be treated is supplied to at least two processing regions one after the other and flows through these regions, wherein the material transport direction is a cross flow relative to the flow of the fluidization means.

Abstract: Apparatus for batch processing source material into charcoal in a battery of kilns, each of which use forced convection of process gases through the source material to shorten the process cycle time, and all of which use an external combustor to burn the process waste gases from each kiln to provide the primary source of applied energy for the process.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for dehumidifying, drying or the like of different materials. The invention is developed primarily for dehumidification of sewage sludge (7), but it may be utilized for many different materials including foodstuffs as crispbread and pasta. The sludge (7) or other material is dehumidified or dried in a chamber (1) by means of thermal radiation. The thermal radiation is given by means of one or more elements (2) for thermal radiation. The thermal radiation is concentrated to one or more distinct wavelength ranges at which water has peaks for absorption of radiation energy. Air is circulated in the chamber (1), to take up moisture evaporated from the material.

Abstract: A modular air fluidized sand bed for the heat treatment of metal products is disclosed. This technology provides for the heat-treatment of steels, particularly long products, and other alloys and shapes using fluidized-sand heat transfer media. The technology directs gas burners into U-tube assemblies suspended in the media. The fluidizing agent is hot exhaust gas recovered from the U-tubes. Blended exhaust gases and cool air can maintain fluidizing gas, plenum and retort temperatures at nearly the same temperature as the sand. Constant volume and pressure of fluidizing gas maximizes heat transfer between sand and product. For extreme heating applications, a thermally insulated cover held in direct contact with the hot fluidized sand improves energy efficiency. A sand return system returns sand lost from the bed exit to entrance. The modular air fluidized sand bed includes a fluidization pressure and volume that are altered independent of a fluidization media temperature.

Abstract: A gypsum dryer/calciner (1) includes a calcining space (2), a first pipe (4) exhibiting an inlet connected to a source of hot gases (3) and an outlet emerging in the calcining space (2); a second pipe (5) exhibiting an inlet connected to a source of gypsum (8) and an outlet emerging in the calcining space, the second pipe being concentric with the first pipe; a force-feeding screw (6) positioned at least partially in the second pipe, the said screw carrying the gypsum along in the calcining space. A process for calcining gypsum and to the plaster capable of being obtained by this process.

Abstract: A device for the levitated guidance of web-shaped material, particularly metal strips, with at least one first radial fan and with at least one flow channel system that is assigned to the at least one first radial fan provides that the at least one first radial fan generates a fluid flow that is transported through the at least one flow channel system to the surface of the web-shaped material for the levitated guidance thereof. The device is characterized in that at least one additional radial fan for increasing the pressure in the fluid flow is arranged in the at least one flow channel system downstream of the at least one first radial fan referred to the fluid flow direction.