Apparatus and method for drying material and asphalt mixing facility having such an apparatus

An apparatus for drying material for an asphalt mixing facility, the apparatus comprising:

• a rotary kiln rotatably drivable about an axis of rotation, in which the material is dried, wherein the rotary kiln has a material inlet and a material outlet;
• a heating unit coupled to the rotary kiln for feeding heat to the rotary kiln, wherein the heating unit is designed with a burner which has:
• a burner housing having a longitudinal axis;
• an air duct arranged at the burner housing for supplying air,
• a swirling element for swirling the air in the burner housing relative to the longitudinal axis;
• a hydrogen gas line connected to the burner for feeding hydrogen gas into the burner, wherein a hydrogen gas nozzle is connected to the hydrogen gas line for discharging the hydrogen gas;
• a burner head arranged at the burner housing for generating a burner flame;
• a secondary fuel line connected to the burner for supplying secondary fuel, wherein a secondary fuel nozzle for discharging the secondary fuel is connected to the secondary fuel line.

A method for drying material for an asphalt mixing facility, comprising the method steps of:

• feeding the material into a rotary kiln that is rotatably drivable about an axis of rotation;
• generating heat with a burner of a heating unit by combusting hydrogen gas, wherein the burner is operable with hydrogen gas alone;
• feeding the heat to the rotary kiln, and drying the material;
• feeding exhaust gases to at least one of the group comprising the heating unit and the rotary kiln by means of an exhaust gas line.