Drying apparatus and related method
AssigneeDeep Exploration Technologies CRC Limited
InventorsDavid Charles LAWIE, Anthony Malcolm STEVENS, Frederick Allan BLAINE
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Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a means for providing a flow of heated fluid, and a means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid. The means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid is arranged operable with the means for providing a flow of heated fluid so that exposure of the sample to the flow of heated fluid facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while substantially preserving one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the portion.
Claims18
1-52. (canceled)
A method for drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content, the method comprising:
- providing a flow of heated fluid for flowing through a passage from an upstream end toward an end downstream thereof, the flow of heated fluid being introduced into a portion of the passage in a tangential manner, and
- managing a thermal state of the flow of heated fluid so as to facilitate, in a rapid or expeditious manner, a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample of material which becomes exposed to the flow of heated fluid while preserving one or more signature characteristics of the minerology of the portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.