US 4,207,943 A · Countercurrent solid-to-solid heat transfer apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus for transferring heat between solid particles includes a rotatable cylindrical drum which includes plates mounted on the interior surface of the drum wall to extend inwardly thereof. Also included is an elongate vibratory screen disposed within the drum but supported independently of the drum. The screen includes a plurality of apertures of generally uniform size and is inclined with respect to the horizontal. A plurality of vanes are located underneath the screen to guide material falling from the screen toward one end of the drum. A feed bin is provided to introduce a first granular material onto the screen near said one end of the drum, with the particles of such granular material generally being of a size greater than the size of the apertures in the screen. A second feed bin is provided to introduce a second granular material into the other end of the drum, with the particle size of the second granular material generally being less than the size of the apertures. When the drum is rotated, the second granular material is carried from the bottom of the drum toward the top thereof where it then falls from the blades onto the screen. As the screen is vibrated, the first granular material is caused to move downwardly on the screen and the second material is caused to sift through the apertures in the screen to be carried by the blades back up onto the screen. In this manner, the first and second materials are placed in contact with one another to enable transfer of heat therebetween.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of transferring heat from one granular material to another comprising

introducing onto one end of an elongate trough a first granular material composed of particles of generally a first size and being of a certain temperature, said trough including a bottom wall having a plurality of perforations therein of a size generally smaller than said first size, said trough being disposed within a rotatable, generally cylindrical drum at an angle with respect to the horizontal, said first granular material being introduced onto the trough at the upper end thereof,
introducing into the end of the drum opposite said one end of the trough a second granular material composed of particles generally of a second size smaller than the size of the apertures and being of a temperature different from said certain temperature,
rotating said drum to carry the second granular material from the bottom of the drum toward the top thereof in a carrying structure attached to the interior wall of the drum, said second material falling from said carrying structure onto the trough as the carrying structure rotates to near the top of the drum, and
agitating said trough to cause the first granular material to move downwardly therealong to mix with the second granular material and to cause the second granular material to sift through the perforations in the trough, the first and second granular material thereby contacting one another to allow transfer of heat therebetween.

1 more element

Counterflow heat exchange apparatus for solids comprising:

a generally cylindrical drum rotatable about the cylindrical axis thereof, said drum being oriented so that said axis is positioned at an acute angle with the horizontal or at the horizontal,
means mounted in said drum for carrying material from the bottom of the drum to near the top thereof as the drum is rotated, such material falling from said carrying means as the material is rotated to near the top,
elongate means disposed within said drum to extend from near a first end of said drum downwardly at an angle with respect to the horizontal to near the other end of said drum, said elongate means having a bottom formed with a plurality of apertures therein,
vane means positioned either above or underneath said elongate means or both to guide material falling either from said carrying means or through said apertures toward said first end and out of the drum,
means for introducing into said elongate means near said first end of the drum a first granular material whose particles are generally of a size too large to pass through said apertures,
means for introducing into the other end of said drum a second granular material whose particles are generally of a size small enough to enable passage thereof through said apertures,
means for rotating said drum so that said second material is carried upwardly in the drum by the carrying means to then fall therefrom onto said elongate means, and
means for causing said elongate means to vibrate so that said first material is caused to move downwardly in the elongate means to mix with said second material and said second material is caused to pass through the apertures in the elongate means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Countercurrent solid-to-solid heat transfer apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Countercurrent solid-to-solid heat transfer apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14