Calcining kettle, calcining system, and method

A calcining system, comprising:

• a kettle comprising:
• an outer kettle shell;
• an inner kettle shell disposed within the outer kettle shell such that the inner kettle shell and the outer kettle shell together at least partially define a jacket adjacent the inner kettle shell;
• an interior heat exchanger assembly defining at least one tortuous path inside a volume defined by the inner kettle shell, wherein the inner kettle shell and the interior heat exchanger assembly at least partially define a processing volume;
• and
• an agitator within the inner kettle shell, the agitator configured to rotate at least one paddle to cause movement of a feedstock material within the processing volume, the at least one paddle extending between different sub-assemblies of the interior heat exchanger assembly;
• and
• a heating device structured and adapted to circulate a heat transfer fluid in the at least one tortuous path and the jacket.

A method of calcining a material, comprising:

• providing a feedstock material in a processing volume of a calcining kettle, the calcining kettle comprising:
• an outer kettle shell;
• an inner kettle shell disposed within the outer kettle shell such that the inner kettle shell and the outer kettle shell together at least partially define a jacket adjacent the inner kettle shell, the jacket extending along about an entire length of the outer kettle shell;
• an interior heat exchanger assembly defining at least one tortuous path inside a volume defined by the inner kettle shell, the at least one tortuous path comprising a plurality of curves interspersed with straight portions, wherein the inner kettle shell and the interior heat exchanger assembly at least partially define a processing volume;
• and
• an agitator within the inner kettle shell, the agitator configured to rotate at least one paddle to cause movement of the feedstock material within the processing volume;
• providing a heat transfer fluid in each of the at least one tortuous path and the jacket;
• and
• rotating, within the inner kettle shell, an agitator comprising at least one paddle to move the feedstock material within the processing volume.