Thermal processing of bulk solids
AssigneeSolex Thermal Science Inc.
InventorsGerald Marinitsch, Francisco José Castellano Gassó, Caroline Richard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for drying or conditioning bulk solids, includes a housing including an inlet for receiving the bulk solids, and an outlet for discharging the bulk solids, a plurality of spaced apart heat transfer plates assemblies disposed in the housing between the inlet and the outlet for passage of the bulk solids that flow from the inlet, through spaces between the heat transfer plates, and a sweep gas delivery system for the flow of sweep gas in a first direction across the direction of flow of the bulk solids. The sweep gas delivery system includes at least one valve for reversing the flow of the sweep gas from the first direction to a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
Claims19
An apparatus for drying or conditioning bulk solids, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing including an inlet for receiving the bulk solids, and an outlet for discharging the bulk solids;
- a plurality of spaced apart heat transfer plates assemblies disposed in the housing between the inlet and the outlet for passage of the bulk solids that flow from the inlet, through spaces between the heat transfer plates;
- a sweep gas delivery system for the flow of sweep gas in a first direction across the direction of flow of the bulk solids, the sweep gas delivery system including at least one valve for reversing the flow of the sweep gas from the first direction to a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
A method of drying or conditioning bulk solids, the method comprising:
- introducing the bulk solids into an inlet of a housing through which the bulk solids flow through spaces between spaced apart heat transfer plates;
- subjecting the bulk solids to heating utilizing the heat transfer plates as the bulk solids flow, by the force of gravity, through the spaces between the heat transfer plates, toward an outlet of the housing;
- directing a sweep gas through the bulk solids as the bulk solids flow toward the outlet of the housing, the sweep gas being directed to flow in a first direction across the direction of flow of the bulk solids;
- reversing direction of flow of the sweep gas by directing the flow of the sweep gas through the bulk solids, in a second direction opposite to the first direction,
- wherein reversing direction of flow of the sweep gas comprises switching at least one valve to reverse the direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.