Apparatus for devolatizing solids at low temperatures

An apparatus (10) for devolatilizing a solid comprising:

• a devolatilization chamber (100) having a devolatilization chamber volume (110), a devolatilization chamber first end (120), a devolatilization chamber second end (130) opposite the devolatilization chamber first end, a devolatilization chamber length (140), a devolatilization chamber wall (150) encompassing the devolatilization chamber volume defined by the devolatilization chamber wall, the devolatilization chamber first end and the devolatilization chamber second end, the devolatilization chamber further comprising a devolatilization chamber solids feed inlet (160) at the devolatilization chamber first end, and a devolatilization chamber solids discharge outlet (170) at the devolatilization chamber second end;
• a first distribution chamber inlet (210) at the devolatilization chamber first end which is fluidly connected to a first distribution chamber (200) located in the devolatilization chamber volume, with the first distribution chamber fluidly connected to a first distribution chamber outlet (220) located at the devolatilization chamber second end, with the first distribution chamber having at least one first distribution chamber port (230) for a heated gas (700) to pass from the first distribution chamber into the devolatilization chamber where the heated gas becomes a process gas (800);
• a heat chamber (300) comprising a heat chamber volume (310) housing a heat source (320) with a feed gas inlet (330) into the heat chamber volume, a heated gas outlet (340), and a recirculated gas inlet (350);
• and
• a motivation device (400) for removing the heated gas from the heat chamber to the distribution chamber inlet;
• and
• wherein the heated gas outlet is fluidly connected with the first distribution chamber inlet and the first distribution chamber outlet is fluidly connected with the recirculated gas inlet;
• the devolatilization chamber wall has a plurality of perforations (180) and is housed inside a process chamber (500) with the process chamber having at least one exhaust outlet (500, 510A, 510B) for the process gas to rise from the devolatilization chamber as an exhaust gas (850);
• and
• a catch pan (520) to collect and remove at least one liquid (1000) and a plurality of particles falling from the devolatilization chamber.

A process for devolatilizing solids comprising the steps of:

• A. feeding a solid and at least one volatile to be removed from the solid into a devolatilization chamber (100);
• B. heating a feed gas (900) and a recirculated gas (950) in a heating chamber (330) to create a heated gas (700) having a heated gas temperature;
• C. creating the recirculated gas and a process gas (800) by distributing a portion of the heated gas into the devolatilization chamber containing the solids and the at least one volatile so that the heated gas becomes the process gas and is able to contact the solids with the remainder of the heated gas not distributed into the devolatilization chamber becoming the recirculated gas;
• D. exhausting a portion of the process gas from the devolatilization chamber as an exhaust gas (850) so that no more than 50% by volume of the exhaust gas re-enters the heating chamber;
• E. feeding at least a portion of the recirculated gas into the heat chamber;
• and
• F. removing the solid from the devolatilization chamber.