Calcination apparatus
AssigneeUnited States Gypsum Company
InventorsDavid J. Ball, Edward Varney, Philip Curtis, Martin Dzidrums
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention concerns an improved method of calcining gypsum in which non-reactive hot gas is passed into contact with the gypsum from a source through a plurality of tubes extending downwardly into the gypsum. The invention also contemplates an improved apparatus which comprises a calcining kettle and a plurality of tubes connected to a common source of non-reactive hot gas and extending downwardly into the kettle and having openings in their lower regions to release the hot gas into the contents of the kettle. The invention provides a method and apparatus which produces gypsum plaster of improved quality and with less insoluble anhydrite.
Claims11
Apparatus for calcining gypsum to produce a plaster having a minimal anhydrite content, comprising:
- a kettle for containing the gypsum material;
- a combustion chamber associated with the kettle and providing a source of non-reacting hot post combustion gases:
- and
- a plurality of uninsulated, gas conducting tubes each connected at its upper end to and in gas receiving communication with the source of combustion gases and extending generally downwardly therefrom into the contents of the kettle and having an opening at its lower end for discharging the combustion gases into the kettle contents, said tubes having heat conductive walls effective to conduct heat from the flowing hot gases to the kettle contents through said walls before discharging said gases, the number and size of the tubes being such that the total heat conductive surface area of the plurality of tubes is at least twice the heat conductive surface area of a single tube large enough to handle the same volume of gases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.