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US 4,702,799 AGranted
Dryer and drying method
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorJames Tuot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A finely atomized liquid is projected in a stream and dried by contact with drying gas. The drying gas is projected in turbulent flow from opposite sides of the stream such flow being distributed along the length of the stream. The material may be atomized and projected by a jet of gas issuing from a nozzle, and the drying gas may be projected around the jet so that the drying gas meets the entrainment demand of the jet, thereby preventing recirculation of gases outside the jet.
Claims23
A method of drying a liquid material comprising the steps of:
- (a) atomizing the material and projecting a stream of the atomized material in a downstream direction;
- and
- (b) contacting the atomized material with a drying gas by projecting the drying gas in turbulent flow, transversely to said down-stream direction, towards the stream from opposite sides thereof, the drying gas being distributed along the length of the stream so that the atomized material passes between opposing inward flows of drying gas, whereby the drying gas mixes with the atomized material and the atomized material dries as it moves downstream.
Apparatus for drying a liquid material comprising:
- (a) means for atomizing the material and projecting a stream of the atomized material in a downstream direction;
- and
- (b) means for projecting a drying gas in turbulent flow, transversely to said downstream direction, towards the stream from opposite sides thereof so that the drying gas is distributed along the length of the stream and the drying gas mixes with the atomized material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.