Method and apparatus for inputting thermal energy into a fluid, related apparatus and uses

A method for mineral wool production, the method comprising generation of a heated fluidic medium by at least one rotary apparatus integrated into a mineral wool production facility, the at least one rotary apparatus comprising:

• a rotor with a plurality of rotor blades arranged into at least one row around a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft,
• a plurality of stationary blades or vanes arranged into an assembly adjacent to the at least one row of rotor blades, and
• a casing with a duct formed between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the duct configured to encompass rotating and stationary blades such that bladeless portion(s) of the duct is/are arranged essentially subsequently to bladed portions thereof,
• wherein the rotary apparatus is configured to impart thermal energy to a stream of fluidic medium flowing in the duct between the inlet and the outlet by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium successively passes through bladed and bladeless portions of the duct, whereby a stream of heated fluidic medium is generated, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the mineral wool production facility, the input energy comprising electrical energy,
• supplying the stream of heated fluidic medium generated by the at least one rotary apparatus into the mineral wool production facility, and
• operating said at least one rotary apparatus and said mineral wool production facility to carry out mineral wool production at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 degrees Celsius (° C.).

A method for gypsum production, the method comprising generation of a heated fluidic medium by at least one rotary apparatus integrated into a gypsum production facility, the at least one rotary apparatus comprising:

• a rotor with a plurality of rotor blades arranged into at least one row around a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft,
• a plurality of stationary blades or vanes arranged into an assembly adjacent to the at least one row of rotor blades, and
• a casing with a duct formed between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the duct configured to encompass rotating and stationary blades such that bladeless portion(s) of the duct is/are arranged essentially subsequently to bladed portions thereof,
• wherein the rotary apparatus is configured to impart thermal energy to a stream of fluidic medium flowing in the duct between the inlet and the outlet by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium successively passes through bladed and bladeless portions of the duct, whereby a stream of heated fluidic medium is generated, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the gypsum production facility, the input energy comprising electrical energy,
• supplying the stream of heated fluidic medium generated by the at least one rotary apparatus into the gypsum production facility, and
• operating said at least one rotary apparatus and said gypsum production facility to carry out titanium oxide production at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 degrees Celsius (° C.).

A method for wood pulp production, the method comprising generation of a heated fluidic medium by at least one rotary apparatus integrated into a paper production facility, the at least one rotary apparatus comprising:

• a rotor with a plurality of rotor blades arranged into at least one row around a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft,
• a plurality of stationary blades or vanes arranged into an assembly adjacent to the at least one row of rotor blades, and
• a casing with a duct formed between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the duct configured to encompass rotating and stationary blades such that bladeless portion(s) of the duct is/are arranged essentially subsequently to bladed portions thereof,
• wherein the rotary apparatus is configured to impart thermal energy to a stream of fluidic medium flowing in the duct between the inlet and the outlet by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium successively passes through bladed and bladeless portions of the duct, whereby a stream of heated fluidic medium is generated, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the paper production facility, the input energy comprising electrical energy,
• supplying the stream of heated fluidic medium generated by the at least one rotary apparatus into the paper production facility, and
• operating said at least one rotary apparatus and said paper production facility to carry out titanium oxide production at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 degrees Celsius (° C.).

A method for cathode or anode production, the method comprising generation of a heated fluidic medium by at least one rotary apparatus integrated into a battery production facility, the at least one rotary apparatus comprising:

• a rotor with a plurality of rotor blades arranged into at least one row around a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft,
• a plurality of stationary blades or vanes arranged into an assembly adjacent to the at least one row of rotor blades, and
• a casing with a duct formed between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the duct configured to encompass rotating and stationary blades such that bladeless portion(s) of the duct is/are arranged essentially subsequently to bladed portions thereof,
• wherein the rotary apparatus is configured to impart thermal energy to a stream of fluidic medium flowing in the duct between the inlet and the outlet by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium successively passes through bladed and bladeless portions of the duct, whereby a stream of heated fluidic medium is generated, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the battery production facility, the input energy comprising electrical energy,
• supplying the stream of heated fluidic medium generated by the at least one rotary apparatus into the battery production facility, and
• operating said at least one rotary apparatus and said battery production facility to carry out titanium oxide production at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 degrees Celsius (° C.),
• wherein the at least one rotary apparatus is configured to supply heat to a cathode and/or anode production process.

A method for flash drying of one or more chemicals, the method comprising generation of a heated fluidic medium by at least one rotary apparatus integrated into a chemical production facility, the at least one rotary apparatus comprising:

• a rotor with a plurality of rotor blades arranged into at least one row around a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft,
• a plurality of stationary blades or vanes arranged into an assembly adjacent to the at least one row of rotor blades, and
• a casing with a duct formed between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the duct configured to encompass rotating and stationary blades such that bladeless portion(s) of the duct is/are arranged essentially subsequently to bladed portions thereof,
• wherein the rotary apparatus is configured to impart thermal energy to a stream of fluidic medium flowing in the duct between the inlet and the outlet by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium successively passes through bladed and bladeless portions of the duct, whereby a stream of heated fluidic medium is generated, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the chemical production facility, the input energy comprising electrical energy,
• supplying the stream of heated fluidic medium generated by the at least one rotary apparatus into the chemical production facility, and
• operating said at least one rotary apparatus and said chemical production facility to carry out flash drying of one or more chemicals at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 degrees Celsius (° C.).

An industrial production facility comprising at least one rotary apparatus configured to generate a heated fluidic medium and at least one heat-consuming unit configured to carry out a process of processes related to industrial production, the at least one rotary apparatus comprising:

• a rotor with a plurality of rotor blades arranged into at least one row around a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft,
• a plurality of stationary blades or vanes arranged into an assembly adjacent to the at least one row of rotor blades, and
• a casing with a duct formed between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the duct configured to encompass rotating and stationary blades such that bladeless portion(s) of the duct is/are arranged essentially subsequently to bladed portions thereof,
• wherein the rotary apparatus is configured to operate such that thermal energy is imparted to a stream of fluidic medium flowing in the duct between the inlet and the outlet by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium successively passes through bladed and bladeless portions of the duct, whereby a stream of heated fluidic medium is generated, and
• wherein said at least one rotary apparatus is configured to receive an amount of input energy, the input energy comprising electrical energy, and to generate a heated fluidic medium for inputting thermal energy into at least one heat-consuming unit configured to carry out a process or processes related to material production at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 degrees Celsius (° C.),
• wherein the industrial production facility is one of (i) a titanium oxide production facility, (ii) a mineral-wool production facility, (iii) a gypsum production facility, (iv) a wood pulp and paper production facility, (v) a cathode/anode production facility, or (vi) a chemical production facility.

A method for inputting thermal energy into a process or processes related to producing a material in a production facility, the method comprises generation of a heated fluidic medium by at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the production facility, the at least one rotary apparatus comprising:

• a rotor with a plurality of rotor blades arranged into at least one row around a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft,
• a plurality of stationary blades or vanes arranged into an assembly adjacent to the at least one row of rotor blades, and
• a casing with a duct formed between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the duct configured to encompass rotating and stationary blades such that bladeless portion(s) of the duct is/are arranged essentially subsequently to bladed portions thereof,
• the method further comprises:
• integrating the at least one rotary apparatus into the production facility configured to carry out process or processes related to production of the material at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 degrees Celsius (° C.),
• conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the production facility, the input energy comprising electrical energy, and
• operating the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the production facility such, that thermal energy is imparted to a stream of fluidic medium flowing in the duct between the inlet and the outlet by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium successively passes through bladed and bladeless portions of the duct, whereby a stream of heated fluidic medium is generated, and
• wherein the material produced includes one of (i) titanium oxide, (ii) mineral-wool, (iii) gypsum, (iv) wood pulp and paper, (v) cathodes/anodes for batteries, or (vi) flash-dried chemicals.