Apparatus for removing moisture from particulate material

A method of removing moisture from particulate material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a drying chamber having first and second ends;
• directing a flow of gas-entrained particulate material between said first and second ends of the drying chamber;
• directing gas under pressure into the drying chamber, in order to interact with the flow of gas-entrained particulate material within the drying chamber;
• wherein the flow of gas-entrained particulate material is directed to follow a helical flow path in a first rotational sense from said first end of the drying chamber to the second end of the drying chamber;
• and wherein gas under pressure is directed into the drying chamber at a first location between said first and second ends of the drying chamber, in a rotational or tangential manner with respect to the direction of travel of the particulate material between said first and second ends, but in a second rotational sense which is counter to said first rotational sense, in order to shock the flow of particulate material moving between the first and second ends of the drying chamber.

A method of removing moisture from particulate material, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus comprising a dryer having a drying chamber;
• directing a flow of gas-entrained particulate material between first and second ends of the drying chamber;
• directing gas under pressure into the drying chamber, for interacting with a flow of gas-entrained particulate material within the drying chamber;
• wherein the dryer comprises a body of modular construction, which defines a plurality of guide passages arranged for fluid communication between the drying chamber and a source of gas under pressure;
• and
• wherein the body of modular construction comprises a plurality of discrete annular elements, each having a body defining a central aperture, and wherein the annular elements are arranged with the central apertures aligned.