Heat treatment of solid catalyst or adsorbent particles in the presence of fluid in a vibrating helical coil

Apparatus for the treatmere of solid particles with a size between 0.1 .mu.m and 10 cm, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one substantially tubular metal coil having at least two turns helically wound around a vertical axis and a central shaft, said coil having a diameter between 10 and 300 mm, a developed length between 0 and 200 m, the height of the helix formed by said coil being between 0 and 20 m and the angle of rise of the coil on the basis of the of the inclination of the coil with respect to the horizontal is between 1.degree. and 10.degree.,
• at least one lateral pipe for the introduction of said particles and at least one lateral pipe for drawing off said particles,
• at least one low voltage currein tapping poim permitting direct generation of heat in the mass of the coil at at least one turn of the coil by the Joule effect to a temperature between 20.degree. and 1000.degree. C.,
• at least one assembly of two pipes having a lateral pipe for the introduction of at least one fluid and a lateral pipe for drawing off at least said fluid in such a way that said fluid flows in at least one turn of the coil,
• means for imparting vibrations to the shaft and coil, so that the dimensionless acceleration constam is between 0 and 4, the particle advance speed is between 0.05 and 0.5 m/s and the mass hourly particle flow rate is between 1 kg/h and 50 tonnes/h.