Aggregate dryer with exhaust quenching system

An improved combination of components for use in the production of asphalt concrete, said combination including a dryer for drying aggregate material, an exhaust gas outlet conduit for discharge of exhaust gases from the dryer, and a dust collection assembly that is adapted to receive exhaust gases and entrained dust from the dryer via the exhaust gas outlet conduit, wherein the improvement comprises an exhaust quenching system including:

• (a) a water reservoir;
• (b) a water line that extends from the water reservoir into the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (c) an atomization nozzle on the water line within the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (d) a pump for pumping water from the water reservoir through the water line and out of the atomization nozzle within the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (e) a controller that is adapted to effect evaporative cooling of the exhaust gases in the exhaust gas outlet conduit upstream of the dust collection assembly by causing substantially all of the water that is pumped into the exhaust gas outlet conduit to flash to steam upon entering the exhaust gas outlet conduit.

A method for operating a combination of components for use in the production of asphalt concrete, said combination including a dryer for drying aggregate material, an exhaust gas outlet conduit for discharge of exhaust gases from the dryer, and a dust collection assembly that is adapted to receive exhaust gases and entrained dust from the dryer via the exhaust gas outlet conduit, wherein the method comprises:

• (a) providing an exhaust quenching system including:
• (i) a water reservoir;
• (ii) a water line that extends from the water reservoir into the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (iii) an atomization nozzle on the water line within the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (iv) a pump for pumping water from the water reservoir through the water line and out of the atomization nozzle within the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (v) a controller that is adapted to effect evaporative cooling of the exhaust gases in the exhaust gas outlet conduit upstream of the dust collection assembly by causing at least a portion of the water that is pumped into the exhaust gas outlet conduit to flash to steam upon entering the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (b) introducing aggregate material into the dryer;
• (c) operating the dryer to dry the aggregate material, thereby producing exhaust gases with dust entrained therein;
• (d) discharging the exhaust gases with dust entrained therein through the exhaust gas outlet conduit;
• (e) operating the controller to effect evaporative cooling of the exhaust gases in the exhaust gas outlet conduit upstream of the dust collection assembly by causing at least a portion of the water that is pumped into the exhaust gas outlet conduit to flash to steam upon entering the exhaust gas outlet conduit.