Rotary feedstock processing apparatus with an axially adjustable rotor

A method for improving process efficiency and for regulating flow losses during processing of feedstocks in a process fluid, comprising:

• a. obtaining an apparatus (100) comprising:
• a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor blades arranged over a circumference of a disk (3a) adjustably mounted onto a rotor shaft (1) and forming a rotor blade cascade (3),
• a plurality of stationary vanes arranged into annular vane cascades (2, 4) adjacently disposed with regard to the rotor blade cascade such, as to form a stator-rotor-stator arrangement (2, 3, 4), wherein adjusting a position of the rotor blade cascade (3) relative to the stationary vane cascades (2, 4) is configured to adjust at least a rotation speed of the rotor and/or a flow rate of the process fluid, and
• a casing (6), in which a duct is formed with at least one inlet (8) and at least one exit (9), said casing enclosing the rotor blade cascade (3) and the stationary vane cascades (2, 4) inside the duct;
• and
• b. adjusting a position of the rotor blade cascade (3) relative to the stationary vane cascades (2, 4) in the stator-rotor-stator arrangement in an axial direction along the rotor shaft by a predetermined distance (ΔX), thereby adjusting at least the rotation speed of the rotor and/or the flow rate of the feedstock-containing process fluid.